Maximum Ride 03 - Saving The World and Other Extreme Sports PDF

Pat t er son, J ames - Maxi mumRi de Book Thr ee - Savi ng t he Wor l d and Ot her Ext r eme Spor t s
Maxi mumRi de Book Thr ee - Savi ng t he Wor l d and Ot her Ext r eme Spor t s
J ames Pat t er son

For Kel l y and Kevi n Okun
And f or ever ybody out t her e who mi ght l ove books, i f t hey wer e gi ven books t hat
l oved t hemback
Many t hanks t o Gabr i el l e Char bonnet , my conspi r at or , who f l i es hi gh and cr acks
wi se. And t o Mar y J or dan, f or br ave assi st ance and r esear ch at ever y t wi st and t ur n.

To t he r eader :
The i dea f or Maxi mumRi de comes f r omear l i er books of mi ne cal l ed When t he Wi nd
Bl ows and The Lake House, whi ch al so f eat ur e a char act er named Max who escapes f r om
a qui t e despi cabl e School . Most of t he si mi l ar i t i es end t her e. Max and t he ot her
ki ds i n Maxi mumRi de ar e not t he same Max and ki ds f eat ur ed i n t hose t wo books. Nor
do Fr anni e and Ki t pl ay any par t i n Maxi mumRi de. I hope you enj oy t he r i de anyway.
Pr ol ogue
No Mor e Mi st akes!
I t exi con Amer i can Headquar t er s
Fl or i da, Uni t ed St at es
We have met i cul ousl y cr af t ed t he skel et on of our new wor l d, t he Di r ect or
pr ocl ai med f r omt he l ar ge TV scr een i n t he conf er ence r oom. Par t s of t hi s skel et on
ar e scat t er ed acr oss t he gl obe. Now t he t i me has come t o connect t hose par t s, t o
become one! And, as one, we wi l l commence our Re- Evol ut i on!
The Di r ect or st opped speaki ng when she not i ced t hat t he phone was vi br at i ng i n t he
pocket of her whi t e l ab coat . Fr owni ng, she pul l ed i t out and l ooked at a message.
The si t uat i on i n Bui l di ng 3 had become cr i t i cal .
I t s t i me, she sai d, gl anci ng at a col l eague of f scr een. Seal Bui l di ng Thr ee and
gas ever yt hi ng i nsi de.
Acr oss t he conf er ence t abl e, Rol and t er Bor cht smi l ed. J eb Bat chel der i gnor ed hi m
as t he Di r ect or t ur ned her at t ent i on back t o t he camer a.
Ever yt hi ng i s i n pl ace, and we r e commenci ng t he By- Hal f Pl an as of oh seven
hundr ed t omor r ow. As you know, J eb, t he onl y puzzl e pi ece not f i t t i ng i n, t he onl y
f l y i n t he oi nt ment , t he onl y l oose end not t i ed up i s your obnoxi ous,
uncont r ol l abl e, pat het i c, usel ess, f l yi ng f ai l ur es.
Ter Bor scht nodded gr avel y and shot J eb a gl ance.
You begged us t o wai t unt i l t he bi r d ki ds pr epr ogr ammed expi r at i on dat e ki cked
i n, t he Di r ect or went on, her voi ce t i ght wi t h t ensi on. But you no l onger have
t hat l uxur y, no mat t er how soon i t wi l l happen. Get r i d of t hose l oose cannons now,
Dr . Bat chel der . Do I make mysel f cl ear ?
J eb nodded. I under st and. They l l be t aken car e of .
The Di r ect or wasn t so easi l y convi nced. You show me pr oof of ext i nct i on of t hose
bi r d- ki d mi st akes by oh seven hundr ed t omor r ow, she sai d, or you wi l l be t he one
t o become ext i nct . Do we have an under st andi ng?
Yes. J eb Bat chel der cl ear ed hi s t hr oat . I t s al r eady i n pl ace, Di r ect or .
They r e j ust wai t i ng f or my si gnal .
Then gi ve t hemt he si gnal , t he Di r ect or snar l ed. When you ar r i ve i n Ger many,
t hi s f ool i shness must be over . I t i s a moment ous day. . . t he dawn of a new er a f or
humanki nd. . . and t her e i s no t i me t o wast e. Ther e i s much t o do i f we r e t o r educe
t he wor l d s popul at i on by one- hal f .

Par t 1
I n Sear ch of Hot Chocol at e- chi p Cooki es
Page 1

1
Lay of f t he f r eaki ng hor n! I sai d, r ubbi ng my f or ehead.
Nudge pul l ed away f r omt he st eer i ng wheel , whi ch Fang was hol di ng. Sor r y, she
sai d. I t s j ust so much f un- i t sounds l i ke a par t y.
I l ooked out t he van wi ndow and shook my head, st r uggl i ng t o keep my i r r i t at i on i n
check.
I t seemed l i ke onl y yest er day t hat we d done t he pr et t y i mpossi bl e and bust ed out
of t he ver y cr eepy and deepl y di st ur bi ng I t ex headquar t er s i n Fl or i da.
I n r eal i t y, i t had been f our days. Four days si nce Gazzy and I ggy had bl own a hol e
i n t he si de of t he I t ex headquar t er s, t hus spr i ngi ng us f r omour l at est di abol i cal
i ncar cer at i on.
Because we r e j ust cr azy about consi st ency, we wer e on t he r un agai n.
However , i n an i nt er est i ng, nonf l yi ng change of pace, we wer e dr i vi ng. We d made
t he savvy deci si on t o bor r ow an ei ght - passenger van t hat had appar ent l y been a l ove
machi ne back i n t he 80s: shag car pet i ng ever ywher e, bl acked- out wi ndows, a neon r i m
ar ound t he l i cense pl at e t hat we d i mmedi at el y di sabl ed as t oo conspi cuous.
Ther e was, f or once, pl ent y of r oomf or al l si x of us: me ( Max) ; Fang, who was
dr i vi ng; I ggy, who was t r yi ng t o convi nce me t o l et hi mdr i ve, al t hough he s bl i nd;
Nudge, i n t he f r ont seat next t o Fang, seemi ngl y unabl e t o keep her mi t t s of f t he
hor n; t he Gasman ( Gazzy) ; and Angel , my baby.
And Tot al , who was Angel s t al ki ng dog. Long st or y.
Gazzy was si ngi ng a Wei r d Al Yankovi c song, soundi ng exact l y l i ke t he or i gi nal . I
admi r ed Gazzy s uncanny mi mi cki ng abi l i t y but r esent ed hi s f asci nat i on wi t h bodi l y
f unct i ons, a f asci nat i on appar ent l y shar ed by Wei r d Al .
Enough wi t h t he const i pat i on song, Nudge gr oaned, as Gazzy l aunched i nt o t he
second ver se.
Ar e we goi ng t o st op soon? Tot al asked. I have a sensi t i ve bl adder . Hi s nose
t wi t ched, and hi s br i ght eyes l ooked at me. Because I was t he l eader and I made t he
deci si ons about st oppi ng. And about a mi l l i on ot her t hi ngs.
I gl anced down at t he map on t he l apt op scr een i n my act ual l ap, t hen r ol l ed down
t he wi ndow t o l ook at t he ni ght sky, gauge our wher eabout s.
You coul d have got t en a car wi t h GPS, Tot al sai d hel pf ul l y.
Yes, I sai d. Or we coul d have br ought al ong a dog t hat doesn t t al k. I gave
Angel a poi nt ed l ook, and she smi l ed, wel l , angel i cal l y at me.
Tot al huf f ed, of f ended, and cl i mbed i nt o her l ap, hi s smal l , bl ack, Scot t i e- l i ke
body f i t t i ng neat l y agai nst her . She ki ssed hi s head.
J ust an hour ago we d f i nal l y sped acr oss t he st at e bor der , i nt o Loui si ana,
met i cul ousl y st i cki ng t o our car ef ul l y pl ot t ed, br i l l i ant l y concei ved pl an of
headi ng west . Away f r omt he l augh r i ot t hat had been our st i nt i n sout h Fl or i da.
Because we st i l l had a mi ssi on: t o st op I t ex and t he School and t he I nst i t ut e and
whoever el se was i nvol ved f r omdest r oyi ng us and f r omdest r oyi ng t he wor l d. We r e
not hi ng i f not ambi t i ous.
Loui si ana, t he st at e t hat r oad mai nt enance f or got , I mut t er ed, gr i maci ng at
hi t t i ng yet anot her pot hol e. I di dn t t hi nk I coul d t ake t hi s dr i vi ng t hi ng much
l onger . Fr omt he Ever gl ades t o her e had t aken f or ever i n a car , as compar ed wi t h
f l yi ng.
On t he ot her hand, even a bi g 80s l ove van was l ess not i ceabl e t han si x f l yi ng
chi l dr en and t hei r t al ki ng dog.
So t her e you go.

2
I wasn t ki ddi ng about t he f l yi ng- ki ds par t . Or t he t al ki ng- dog par t .
Anyone who s up t o speed on t he Advent ur es of Amazi ng Max and Her Fl yi ng,
Fun- Lovi ng Cohor t s, you can ski p t hi s next page or so. Those of you who pi cked up
t hi s book col d, even t hough i t s cl ear l y par t t hr ee of a ser i es, wel l , get wi t h t he
pr ogr am, peopl e! I can t t ake t wo days t o get you al l caught up on ever yt hi ng!
Her e s t he abbr evi at ed ver si on ( whi ch i s pr et t y good, I mi ght add) :
A bunch of mad sci ent i st s ( mad cr azy, not mad angr y- t hough a l ot of t hemdo seem
t o have anger - management i ssues, especi al l y ar ound me) have been pl ayi ng ar ound wi t h
r ecombi nant l i f e- f or ms, wher e t hey gr af t di f f er ent speci es DNA t oget her .
Most of t hei r exper i ment s f ai l ed hor r i bl y, or l i ved hor r i bl y f or onl y a shor t
whi l e. A coupl e ki nds sur vi ved, i ncl udi ng us, bi r d ki ds, who ar e most l y human but
Page 2
wi t h some bi r d DNA t hr own i n.
The si x of us have been t oget her f or year s. Fang, I ggy, and I ar e anci ent , at
f our t een year s ol d. Nudge t he mot or mout h i s el even, Gazzy i s ei ght , Angel i s si x.
The ot her ones who f unct i on pr et t y wel l and l ast mor e t han a coupl e days ar e
human- l upi ne hybr i ds, or wol f peopl e. We cal l t hemEr aser s, and t hey have an aver age
l i f e span of about si x year s. The sci ent i st s ( whi t ecoat s) t r ai ned t hemt o hunt and
ki l l , l i ke a per sonal ar my. They r e st r ong and bl oodt hi r st y but l ousy about i mpul se
cont r ol .
The si x of us ar e on t he r un, t r yi ng t o t hwar t t he whi t ecoat s pl an t o dest r oy us
and most of humani t y, whi ch makes t he whi t ecoat s cr azy. Or cr azi er . So t hey have
been goi ng t o ext r eme and somet i mes pat het i c l engt hs t o capt ur e us.
Ther e you have i t : our l i ves i n a nut shel l . Emphasi s on nut .
But i f t he above whi pped your i magi nat i on i nt o a f r enzy, her e s somet hi ng even
mor e i nt er est i ng: Fang st ar t ed a bl og ( ht t p: maxi mumr i de. bl ogspot . com) . Not t hat he s
sel f - absor bed and t r endy or anyt hi ng. Nope, not hi m.
We acqui r ed a wi cked- cool l apt op when we escaped f r omt he I t ex headquar t er s, and
get t hi s- i t has per manent sat el l i t e l i nkup, so we r e al ways onl i ne. And because I t ex
i s a wor l d- cl ass, t op- secr et , par anoi d t echf est , t he l i nkup has const ant l y changi ng
codes and passkeys- i t s si gnal i s compl et el y unt r aceabl e. I t s our key t o ever y
i magi nabl e pi ece of i nf or mat i on i n t he wor l d.
Not t o ment i on movi e t i mes and r est aur ant r evi ews. I cr ack up ever y t i me I t hi nk
about i t .
But anyway, wi t h our l ovel y l apt op, Fang i s upchucki ng ever y bi t of i nf o we manage
t o gat her about our past , t he School , t he I nst i t ut e, I t ex, et c. out ont o t he Web.
Who knows? Maybe someone wi l l cont act us and hel p us sol ve t he myst er y of our
exi st ence.
I n t he meant i me, we can l ocat e t he near est Dunki n Donut s i n, l i ke, seconds.

3
Navi gat i ng r oads and pot hol es f el t l i ke way mor e wor k t han i t was wor t h, so I
convi nced t he f l ock t o sur r ender our wheel s and t r avel by wi ng.
Back t o basi cs.
By mi dni ght , we had cr ossed f r omLoui si ana i nt o Texas and wer e appr oachi ng t he
spr awl i ng, f uzzy gl ow of l i ght s t hat was Dal l as. Focusi ng on t he l east - l i t ar ea we
coul d see, we dr opped al t i t ude, coast i ng i n sl ow, wi de ci r cl es, l ower and l ower .
We l anded i n a st at e par k, wher e i t t ook about a mi nut e t o f i nd some wel comi ng
t r ees t o sl eep i n.
And I mean i n t he t r ees, not under t hem. Let s hear i t f or gover nment f undi ng,
peopl e! Take i t f r omme: St at e par ks ar e a val uabl e nat ur al r esour ce! Let s pr ot ect
t hem! I f onl y f or t he sake of t he mut ant bi r d ki ds i n your ar ea.
So, have you nar r owed t he pl an down any? Fang asked me, af t er we d done our
hand- st acki ng good- ni ght r i t ual and t he ot her ki ds wer e asl eep. I was dr aped acr oss
a wi de br anch of a f i r t r ee, swi ngi ng one l eg, wi shi ng I coul d t ake a hot shower .
I keep put t i ng t wo and t wo t oget her and comi ng up wi t h t hi r t y- seven, I sai d. We
have t he School , t he I nst i t ut e, I t ex. . . us, Er aser s, J eb, Anne Wal ker , t he ot her
exper i ment s we saw i n New Yor k. But what s t he bi gger pi ct ur e? How does i t al l f i t
t oget her ? How amI supposed t o save t he wor l d?
I never woul d have admi t t ed not knowi ng t o t he younger ki ds. Ki ds need l eader s,
need t o know someone s i n char ge. I mean, I don t . But most ki ds do.
I can t hel p f eel i ng l i ke t he School i s t he pl ace t o st ar t , I went on, i gnor i ng
t he i nst i nct i ve t i ght eni ng of my st omach muscl es at t he t hought of i t . Remember
when Angel sai d she over hear d peopl e at t he School t hi nki ng about t he hor r i bl e
di sast er comi ng up, and af t er war d t her e woul d be har dl y any peopl e l ef t ?
Yeah, you hear d me r i ght . Angel over hear d peopl e t hi nki ng. Anot her cl ue t hat
we r e no or di nar y cast of char act er s. Angel doesn t j ust r ead mi nds; somet i mes she
can act ual l y cont r ol t hemt oo.
Fang nodded. And we d sur vi ve cause we have wi ngs. And I guess f l y away f r om
what ever di sast er happens.
I was qui et f or a mi nut e, t hi nki ng so har d my head hur t .
Two quest i ons, Fang sai d. Hi s eyes l ooked l i ke par t of t he ni ght sky. One,
wher e s your Voi ce? And t wo, wher e ar e al l t he Er aser s?
I ve been aski ng mysel f t he same t hi ngs, I sai d.
Those of you not i n t he know wi l l be t hi nki ng, What Voi ce?
Page 3
Why, t he l i t t l e Voi ce i nsi de my head, of cour se. You mean you don t have one? I
di d.
Wel l , I hadn t l at el y, but I f i gur ed t hat was j ust a t echni cal hi t ch. I t wasn t l i ke
my Voi ce punched a t i me cl ock or anyt hi ng. I t was t oo much t o hope t hat t he Voi ce
mi ght be gone f or ever , but at t he same t i me I was a l i t t l e f r eaked out by how al one
I f el t wi t hout i t .
The onl y t hi ng I can t hi nk of i s maybe t he Voi ce i s t r ansmi t t ed i nsi de my head
somehow, and now we r e out of r ange?
Fang shr ugged.
Yeah. Who knows? And t hen t he Er aser s, I don t know t hat ei t her . Thi s i s t he
l ongest we ve ever not seen t hem, I sai d, gi vi ng t he sky ar ound us a qui ck scan. I
st i l l had a mi cr ochi p i n my ar mt hat I was sur e was l eadi ng t hemt o me, but we
hadn t seen a si ngl e Er aser i n f our days. Usual l y t hey popped up out of nowher e, no
mat t er wher e we wer e or what we wer e doi ng. But i t had been omi nousl y qui et on t he
Er aser f r ont . I t s cr eepy, and i t makes me f eel l i ke somet hi ng wor se i s comi ng.
Li ke t her e s a one- t on i r on saf e hangi ng over our heads, wai t i ng t o dr op.
Noddi ng, Fang sai d sl owl y, You know what i t r emi nds me of ? Li ke when t her e s a
st or mcomi ng, and al l t he ani mal s somehow know t o di sappear . Al l of a sudden t her e s
no bi r ds, no noi ses. And you l ook up, and t her e s a t wi st er headed r i ght f or you.
I f r owned. You t hi nk t he Er aser s ar en t her e because t hey r e f l eei ng bef or e an
i mpendi ng di sast er ?
Um, yeah, he sai d.
I l eaned back agai nst my t r ee, sear chi ng t he sky agai n. Even t en mi l es out si de of
Dal l as, t he ci t y l i ght s di mmed t he st ar s. I di dn t know t he answer s. Suddenl y I f el t
l i ke I di dn t know anyt hi ng at al l . The onl y cer t ai nt y i n my l i f e was t hese f i ve
ki ds ar ound me. They wer e t he onl y t hi ngs I was sur e of , t he onl y t hi ngs I coul d
t r ust .
Go t o sl eep, sai d Fang. I l l t ake t he wat ch. I want t o check on my bl og
anyway.
My eyes dr i f t ed shut as he pul l ed t he l apt op out of hi s bag.

4
Fans st i l l hangi ng on your ever y wor d? Max asked sl eepi l y some t i me l at er .
Fang l ooked up f r omhi s bl og. He di dn t know how much t i me had passed. The
sl i ght est t i nt of pi nk on t he hor i zon made t he r est of t he wor l d seembl acker
somehow. But he coul d cl ear l y see ever y f r eckl e on Max s t i r ed f ace.
Yep, he sai d. Max shook her head, t hen r el axed i nt o t he cr ook of a l ar ge br anch.
Her eyes dr i f t ed shut agai n, but he knew she wasn t yet asl eep- her muscl es wer e
st i l l t i ght , her body st i l l st i f f .
I t was har d f or her t o r el ax her guar d. Har d f or her t o r el ax per i od. She had a
l ot t o car r y on t hose genet i cal l y enhanced shoul der s, and al l i n al l , she di d a dang
good j ob.
But no one was per f ect .
Fang l ooked down at t he scr een he d f l i pped of f when Max had l eaned cl oser . He
t humbed t he t r ackbal l , and t he scr een gl owed t o l i f e agai n.
Hi s bl og was at t r act i ng mor e and mor e at t ent i on- wor d was spr eadi ng. I n j ust t he
past t hr ee days, he d gone f r omt went y hi t s t o mor e t han a t housand. A t housand
peopl e wer e r eadi ng what he wr ot e, and pr obabl y even mor e woul d t omor r ow.
Thank God f or spel l - check.
But t he message on t he scr een now was par t i cul ar l y odd. He coul dn t r epl y t o i t ,
coul dn t t r ace i t , coul dn t even del et e i t wi t hout i t s myst er i ousl y r eappear i ng
moment s l at er .
He d got t en one j ust l i ke i t yest er day. Now he r er ead t he new one, t r yi ng t o
deci pher wher e i t came f r om, what i t meant . Looki ng up, Fang gl anced at t he f l ock,
now al l sl eepi ng i n var i ous near by t r ees. I t was gr owi ng l i ght er wi t h ever y second,
and Fang was pr et t y whi pped hi msel f .
I ggy was sl ung acr oss t wo br anches, wi ngs hal f unf ol ded, mout h open, one l eg
t wi t chi ng sl i ght l y.
Nudge and Angel had cur l ed up cl ose t o each ot her i n t he cr ooks of wi de l i ve oak
l i mbs.
Tot al was nest l ed on Angel s l ap, one of her hands hol di ng hi mpr ot ect i vel y i n
pl ace. Fang bet i t was i ncr edi bl y war mwi t h t hat f ur r y heat sour ce snoozi ng on her .
The Gasman was t ucked al most i nvi si bl y i nt o a l ar ge hol e made by l ong- ago
Page 4
l i ght ni ng. He l ooked younger t han ei ght , di r t y, pal e wi t h exhaust i on.
And t hen Max. She was sl eepi ng l i ght l y, char act er i st i cal l y f r owni ng as she
dr eamed. As he wat ched, one of her hands coi l ed i nt o a f i st , and she shi f t ed on her
br anch.
Agai n Fang l ooked down at t he scr een, at t he message j ust l i ke t he one he d
r ecei ved yest er day.
One of you i s a t r ai t or , i t r ead. One of t he f l ock has gone bad.

5
We d never been t o Dal l as bef or e, and t he next day, we deci ded t o vi si t t he J ohn
F. Kennedy memor i al , as par t of our Hi ghl i ght s of Texas t our . Or at l east t he
ot her ki ds had deci ded, and t hey had out vot ed me and my wacky l i e l ow suggest i on.
Now we wander ed ar ound t he out door si t e, and I have t o t el l you, I coul d have used
a coupl e of expl anat or y pl aques.
Thi s t hi ng i s goi ng t o f al l on our heads any second, Tot al sai d, exami ni ng t he
f our wal l s t ower i ng over us and l ooki ng ar ound suspi ci ousl y.
I t doesn t say anyt hi ng about Pr esi dent Kennedy, t he Gasman compl ai ned.
I guess you r e supposed t o know al r eady when you come her e, I ggy sai d.
He was a pr esi dent , Nudge sai d, t r ai l i ng one t an hand al ong t he smoot h cement .
And he got ki l l ed. I t hi nk he was supposed t o be a good pr esi dent .
I st i l l t hi nk t her e was a second shoot er . Tot al sni f f ed and f l opped on t he
gr ass.
Can we go now? I asked. Bef or e a busl oad of school ki ds comes on a f i el d t r i p?
Yeah, sai d I ggy. But what now? Let s do somet hi ng f un.
I guess bei ng on t he r un f r ombl oodt hi r st y Er aser s and i nsane sci ent i st s wasn t
enough f un f or hi m. Ki ds t oday ar e so spoi l ed.
Ther e s a cowgi r l museum, sai d Nudge. How di d she know t hi s? No cl ue.
Fang opened hi s l apt op t o a Dal l as t our i st si t e.
Ther e s a bi g ar t museum, he sai d, wi t h no convi nci ng ent husi asm. And an
aquar i um.
Angel sat pat i ent l y on t he gr ound, smoot hi ng her t eddy bear Cel est e s i ncr easi ngl y
bedr aggl ed f ur . Let s go t o t he cowgi r l museum, she sai d.
I bi t my l i p. Why coul dn t we j ust get out of her e, go hi de somepl ace, t ake t he
t i me t o f i gur e ever yt hi ng out ? Why was I t he onl y one who seemed t o f eel a pr essi ng
need t o know what t he heck was goi ng on?
Foot bal l game, sai d Fang.
What ? I ggy asked, hi s f ace br i ght eni ng.
Foot bal l game t oni ght , Texas St adi um. Fang snapped t he l apt op shut and st ood. I
t hi nk we shoul d go.
I st ar ed at hi m. Ar e you nut s? We can t go t o a f oot bal l game! I sai d wi t h my
usual del i cacy and t act . Bei ng sur r ounded, cr owded, by t ens of t housands of peopl e,
t r apped i nsi de, camer as ever ywher e- God, i t s a f r eaki ng ni ght mar e j ust t hi nki ng
about i t !
Texas St adi umi s open t o t he sky, Fang sai d f i r ml y. The Cowboys ar e pl ayi ng t he
Chi cago Bear s.
And we l l be t her e! I ggy cheer ed, punchi ng t he ai r .
Fang, can I t al k t o you pr i vat el y f or a second? I asked t er sel y, mot i oni ng hi m
out of t he memor i al .
We st epped t hr ough an openi ng i n t he cement wal l and moved a coupl e yar ds away. I
put my hands on my hi ps. Si nce when ar e you cal l i ng t he shot s? I demanded. We
can t go t o a f oot bal l game! Ther e s goi ng t o be camer as ever ywher e. What ar e you
t hi nki ng?
Fang l ooked at me ser i ousl y, hi s eyes unr eadabl e. One, i t s goi ng t o be an
awesome game. Two, we r e sei zi ng l i f e by t he t ai l . Thr ee, yeah, t her e s goi ng t o be
camer as ever ywher e. We l l be spot t ed. The School and t he I nst i t ut e and J eb and t he
r est of t he whi t ecoat s pr obabl y have f eeds t appi ng ever y publ i c camer a. So t hey l l
know wher e we ar e.
I was f ur i ous and di dn t know what t o t hi nk. Funny, you di dn t l ook i nsane when
you got up t hi s mor ni ng.
They l l know wher e we ar e and t hey l l come af t er us, Fang sai d gr i ml y. Then
we l l know wher e t he t or nado i s.
Compr ehensi on f i nal l y dawned. You want t o dr aw t hemout .
I can t t ake not knowi ng, he sai d qui et l y.
Page 5
I wei ghed Fang s sani t y agai nst my det er mi nat i on t o r emai n t he l eader . Fi nal l y I
si ghed and nodded. Okay, I get i t . One maj or f i r ef i ght , comi ng r i ght up. But you so
owe me. I mean, my God, f oot bal l !

6
Thi s may sur pr i se you, but peopl e i n Texas ar e ver y i nt o t hei r cont act spor t s. I
saw mor e t han one i nf ant wear i ng a Cowboys onesi e.
I was wound t i ght er t han a choke chai n on a r ot t wei l er , hat i ng ever yt hi ng about
bei ng her e. The Texas St adi umwas, shock, Texas si ze, and we wer e sur r ounded by mor e
t han si xt y t housand popcor n- munchi ng oppor t uni t i es t o go post al .
Nudge was eat i ng bl ue cot t on candy, her eyes l i ke Fr i sbees, l ooki ng at ever yt hi ng.
I want bi g hai r ! she sai d exci t edl y, t uggi ng on my shi r t .
I bl ame you, I t ol d Fang, and he al most smi l ed.
We sat down l ow, by t he mi ddl e of t he f i el d, about as f ar f r omany exi t as we
coul d be. I woul d have been much happi er , or at l east sl i ght l y l ess mi ser abl e, i n
t he nosebl eed sect i on, cl ose t o t he open sky. Down her e, despi t e t he l ack of r oof on
t he st adi um, I f el t hemmed i n and t r apped.
Tel l me agai n what we r e doi ng her e, I sai d, r unni ng a cont i nuous scan of our
sur r oundi ngs.
Fang popped some Cr acker J ack i nt o hi s mout h. We r e her e t o wat ch manl y men do
manl y t hi ngs.
I f ol l owed Fang s l i ne of si ght : He was wat chi ng t he Dal l as Cowboys Cheer l eader s,
who wer e not doi ng manl y t hi ngs, by any st r et ch of t he i magi nat i on.
What s goi ng on? I ggy asked. Unl i ke t he ot her s, he was as t ense as I was. I n a
st r ange pl ace, sur r ounded by l oud, echoi ng noi se, unabl e t o get hi s bear i ngs- I
wonder ed how l ong i t woul d t ake hi mt o cr ack.
I f anyt hi ng happens, I t ol d hi m, st and on your chai r and do an up- and- away, t en
yar ds out and st r ai ght up. Got i t ?
Yeah, he sai d, t ur ni ng hi s head ner vousl y, wi pi ng hi s hands on hi s gr ubby j eans.
I want t o be a cheer l eader , Nudge sai d wi st f ul l y.
Oh, f or God s sake, I snapped, but a l ook f r omFang shut me up. I t meant , don t
r ai n on her par ade. No mat t er how i l l - concei ved and sexi st t hat par ade mi ght be.
I nsi de, I was bur ni ng up. I never shoul d have agr eed t o t hi s. I was hugel y mi f f ed
t hat Fang had i nsi st ed on i t . Now, wat chi ng hi mpr act i cal l y sal i vat e over t he
hor r i f i cal l y per ky cheer l eader s, I got even madder .
They r e wear i ng t i ny l i t t l e shor t s. One of t hemhas l ong r ed hai r , he was
mur mur i ng t o I ggy, who nodded, r apt .
And we al l know how much you l i ke l ong r ed hai r , I t hought , r emember i ng how i t had
f el t , seei ng Fang ki ss t he Red- Hai r ed Wonder back i n Vi r gi ni a. Aci d st ar t ed t o bur n
a hol e i n my st omach.
Max? Angel l ooked up at me. I r eal l y had t o get t hese ki ds i nt o a bat h soon, I
r eal i zed, l ooki ng at her l i mp bl ond cur l s.
Yes, honey? You hungr y? I st ar t ed t o wave down a hot - dog vendor .
No. I mean, yeah, I l l t ake t wo hot dogs, and Tot al want s t wo t oo- but I meant ,
i t s okay.
What s okay?
Ever yt hi ng. She l ooked up at me ear nest l y. Ever yt hi ng wi l l be okay, Max. We ve
come t hi s f ar - we r e supposed t o sur vi ve. We l l sur vi ve, and you l l save t he wor l d,
l i ke you r e supposed t o.
Wel l , r eal i t y j ust shows up somet i mes, doesn t i t ?
I mnot comf or t abl e i n t hi s st adi um, I expl ai ned, t r yi ng t o l ook cal m.
I know. And you hat e Fang l ooki ng at t hose gi r l s. But we r e st i l l havi ng f un, and
Fang st i l l l oves you, and you l l st i l l save t he wor l d. Okay?
My mout h was agape, and my br ai n was f r ant i cal l y t r yi ng t o pr ocess whi ch st at ement
t o r espond t o f i r st - Fang l oves me?- when I hear d someone whi sper , I s t hat one of
t hose bi r d ki ds?

7
Angel and I l ooked at each ot her , and I saw a wor l d of compr ehensi on i n her gaze
t hat made her seemmuch ol der t han si x.
I t t ook onl y seconds f or t he r est of t he f l ock t o hear t he whi sper s and t o r eal i ze
t hat t he whi sper s wer e gr owi ng and spr eadi ng.
Mom! I t hi nk t hat s t hose bi r d ki ds we saw i n t he newspaper !
Page 6
J ason, l ook over t her e. Ar e t hey t he ki ds i n t he pi ct ur es?
Oh, my goodness!
Rebecca, come her e!
And so on and so f or t h. I guess some phot ogr apher must have got t en pi cur es of us
f l yi ng away f r omDi sney Wor l d and spl ashed t hemal l over t he newspaper s. God f or bi d
we shoul d be abl e t o wat ch a l ousy f oot bal l game wi t h not hi ng ext r eme happeni ng.
Out of t he cor ner of my eye, I saw t wo bl ue- uni f or med secur i t y men st ar t i ng down
t he ai sl e t owar d us. A f ast 360 r eveal ed no one mor phi ng i nt o Er aser s, but t her e
wer e many eyes on us, many mout hs wi de open i n sur pr i se.
Shoul d we r un? Gazzy asked ner vousl y, wat chi ng t he cr owd, mappi ng exi t r out es
l i ke he d been t aught .
Runni ng s t oo sl ow, I sai d.
The game hasn t even st ar t ed, Tot al sai d bi t t er l y f r omunder I ggy s seat . I
have money on t he Bear s!
You r e wel come t o st ay her e and see how t he scor e ends up. I st ood, began
gr abbi ng backpacks, count i ng f l ock member s. The usual .
Tot al cr awl ed out and j umped ni mbl y i nt o I ggy s ar ms.
I t apped I ggy s hand t wi ce. I n an i nst ant , we cl i mbed ont o our chai r s. The
mut t er i ng of voi ces was swel l i ng, r i si ng al l ar ound us, and t he next t hi ng I knew,
our f aces wer e t went y f eet hi gh, bei ng pr oj ect ed ont o t he enor mous st adi umscr eens.
J ust l i ke Fang had want ed. I hoped he was happy.
Up and away on t hr ee, I sai d. Two mor e secur i t y guar ds wer e appr oachi ng f ast
f r omt he r i ght .
Peopl e wer e movi ng away f r omus, and I was gl ad t he st adi umhad a namby- pamby
no- weapons pol i cy. Now even t he cheer l eader s eyes wer e on us, t hough t hey di dn t
pause i n t hei r r out i ne.
One, I began, and we al l l eaped i nt o t he ai r , r i ght over ever yone s head.
Whoosh! I unf ur l ed my wi ngs har d and f ast . My wi ngspan i s al most t hi r t een f eet ,
t i p t o t i p, and Fang s and I ggy s ar e even wi der .
I bet we l ooked l i ke avengi ng angel s, hover i ng over t he ast oni shed cr owd. Ki nd of
gr ungy avengi ng angel s. Angel s i n need of a good scr ub.
Move i t ! I or der ed, st i l l scanni ng t he audi ence, checki ng f or Er aser s. The l ast
bat ch of Er aser s had been abl e t o f l y, but no one seemed t o be t aki ng t o t he ai r
except us.
A coupl e of har d downst r okes and we wer e l evel wi t h t he open edge of t he r oof ,
l ooki ng down at t he br i ght l y l i t f i el d, t he t i ny f aces al l st ar i ng at us. Some
peopl e wer e smi l i ng and punchi ng t he ai r . Most seemed shocked and scar ed. I saw some
f aces t hat l ooked angr y.
But none wer e el ongat i ng, becomi ng f ur r y, gr owi ng over si ze cani ne f angs. They wer e
al l st ayi ng human.
As we shot of f i nt o t he ni ght , f l yi ng i n per f ect f or mat i on l i ke navy j et s, I
wonder ed: Wher e have al l t he Er aser s gone?

8
I t sucked, but i t was way cool at t he same t i me, Gazzy sai d. I f el t l i ke t he
Bl ue Angel s!
Yeah, except t he Bl ue Angel s ar e an ext r emel y wel l f unded, wel l equi pped, wel l
t r ai ned, wel l f ed, and no doubt squeaky- cl ean gr oup of cr ack navy pi l ot s, I sai d.
And we r e a bunch of unf unded, unequi pped, semi t r ai ned, not near l y wel l f ed enough,
and f i l t hy mongr el avi an- human hybr i ds. But ot her t han t hat , i t s exact l y t he same.
I knew what he meant , t hough. As mad as I was about our bei ng i n t hat si t uat i on i n
t he f i r st pl ace, and as much as I hat ed bei ng on t he r un yet agai n, and as
vul ner abl e as t hat l ast l i t t l e st unt had made us, st i l l - t he f eel i ng of f l yi ng i n
t i ght f or mat i on, al l of us wi t h wi de, beaut i f ul , awesome wi ngs. . . i t was j ust
i ncr edi bl y cool .
Gazzy gave a hesi t ant smi l e, pi cki ng up on my t ensi on, not knowi ng i f I was t r yi ng
t o be f unny. I sat down, st uck a st r aw i n a j ui ce pouch, and sucked i t dr y, t hen
t ossed i t asi de and dr ai ned anot her one.
We wer e hi di ng i n t he Texas mount ai ns, cl ose t o t he bor der of Me- hi - co. We d f ound
a deep, ver y nar r ow canyon t hat pr ot ect ed us f r omt he wi nd, and now we wer e set t l ed
on t he bot t om, i n f r ont of a smal l f i r e.
I hadn t been t hi s mad at Fang f or t hi s l ong a per i od of t i me si nce- never . Sur e,
I d agr eed t o hi s l ame- but t i dea, but act ual l y, now t hat I t hought about i t , i t was
Page 7
about si x t i mes st upi der t han I d r eal i zed.
Hmm, sai d Fang, l ooki ng at t he l apt op. We r e ever ywher e- TV news, paper s, r adi o.
Seems a l ot of peopl e got phot os.
Ther e s a sur pr i se, I sai d. I bet t hat expl ai ns t hose hel i copt er s we wer e
hear i ng.
Ar e you okay, Max? Nudge asked t i mi dl y.
I gave Nudge an al most convi nci ng smi l e. Sur e, sweet i e. I mj ust . . . t i r ed.
I coul dn t hel p shoot i ng a gl ance at Fang.
He l ooked up. I got a hundr ed and t went y- one t housand hi t s t oday.
Whaaat ? Real l y? He had t hat ki nd of audi ence? He coul d bar el y spel l !
Yeah. Peopl e ar e or gani zi ng, act ual l y t r yi ng t o f i nd out i nf o f or us.
I ggy f r owned. What i f t hey get caught by whi t ecoat s?
What ar e you wr i t i ng about ? I admi t I hadn t been r eadi ng hi s bl og. Too busy
t r yi ng t o st ay al i ve, et c.
Us. Tr yi ng t o get al l t he puzzl e pi eces out t her e, see i f anyone can hel p us put
t he bi g pi ct ur e t oget her .
That s a good i dea, Fang, sai d Angel , t ur ni ng her hot dog over t o bur n t he ot her
si de. We need t o make connect i ons.
What di d she mean by t hat ?
Connect i ons ar e i mpor t ant , Max.
The Voi ce was back.

9
I was so st ar t l ed by t he Voi ce s sudden r eappear ance t hat I j umped and pr act i cal l y
f el l agai nst t he r ock wal l .
I nst i nct i vel y I put a hand t o my t empl e, as i f I coul d f eel t he Voi ce r unni ng
under my ski n l i ke a r i ver .
You okay? I ggy r eached out and t ouched my j eans. He d f el t me j ump.
Yeah, I mut t er ed, wal ki ng away f r omt he gr oup. I f el t t hemal l l ooki ng at me,
but I di dn t want t o expl ai n.
Voi ce. Long t i me no annoy, I t hought .
You wer e doi ng pr et t y wel l on your own, i t r epl i ed. As bef or e, i t was i mpossi bl e
t o t el l whet her i t was young or ol d, mal e or f emal e, human or machi ne. I was
i nst ant l y awar e of a schi zoi d r eact i on: Par t of me f el t i r r i t at ed, i nvaded,
suspi ci ous, r esent f ul - and par t of me was f l ooded wi t h r el i ef , l i ke I wasn t so
al one.
Whi ch was dumb. I l i ved wi t h my f i ve best f r i ends and a dog. They wer e my f ami l y,
my l i f e. How coul d I possi bl y f eel al one?
Ever yone i s al ways al one, Max, sai d t he Voi ce, chi pper as al ways. That s why
connect i ons ar e i mpor t ant .
Have you been r eadi ng Hal l mar k car ds agai n? I t hought . I wal ked out t o t he end of
t he canyon and f ound mysel f a mer e t en f eet f r oma l edge t hat dr opped shar pl y i nt o a
much deeper , bi gger canyon.
Connect i ons, Max. Remember your dr eam?
I f r owned, not knowi ng what t he Voi ce was t al ki ng about .
You mean my dr eamof becomi ng t he f i r st avi an- Amer i can Mi ss Amer i ca? I t hought
sni del y.
No. Your dr eamt hat t he Er aser s ar e chasi ng you, and you r un t hr ough t he woods
unt i l you come t o a l edge. Then you f al l of f t he l edge but st ar t f l yi ng. And escape.
My br eat h l ef t my chest wi t h an audi bl e oof . I hadn t had t hat dr eamsi nce. . . wel l ,
si nce my dr eamhad been r epl aced by a r eal i t y t hat was much wor se. How had t he Voi ce
known about i t ?
Yeah, so? I sai d out l oud.
Thi s canyon i s ver y much l i ke your dr eam. I t s as i f you ve come f ul l ci r cl e.
I had no cl ue. No i dea what t he Voi ce meant .
Connect i ons. Put t i ng i t al l t oget her . Your dr eam, Fang s l apt op, peopl e you ve
met , pl aces you ve been. I t ex, t he School , t he I nst i t ut e. I sn t i t al l connect ed?
Okay, but how? I pr act i cal l y shout ed.
I al most t hought I hear d t he Voi ce si gh, but pr obabl y j ust i magi ned i t .
You l l see. You l l f i gur e i t out . Bef or e i t s t oo l at e.
That s comf or t i ng, I t hought angr i l y. Thanks.
Then I had anot her t hought . Voi ce? Wher e ar e al l t he Er aser s?
Gr ant ed, t he Voi ce had never answer ed a di r ect quest i on- no, t hat woul d have been
Page 8
t oo easy. You don t j ust gi ve t he r at a pi ece of cheese- you make her wor k f or i t ,
r i ght ?
Shr uggi ng, I t ur ned and headed back t o t he ot her s.
They r e dead, Max, sai d t he Voi ce. They ve al l been. . . r et i r ed.
I st opped i n my t r acks, f r ozen by shock. The Voi ce was al ways coy wi t h
i nf or mat i on, but as f ar as I knew, i t had never l i ed t o me. ( Whi ch meant not hi ng, I
r eal i ze. ) But - dead?
Dead, t he Voi ce r epeat ed. They ve been r et i r ed. Al l ar ound t he wor l d, ever y br anch
of t he or gani zat i on has been t er mi nat i ng t hei r r ecombi nant - DNA exper i ment s. You r e
among t he onl y ones l ef t . And t hey r e comi ng f or you.

10
Ooh, omi nous musi c, r i ght ? They r e comi ng f or you. Bi g whoop. They d been comi ng
f or us f or f our year s now. They hadn t done t oo wel l so f ar .
I st r ode back t o t he f l ock.
You okay? Fang asked.
I nodded, t hen r emember ed I was mad at hi m.
I l ooked away and del i ber at el y sat next t o Nudge, agai nst t he ot her canyon wal l .
I j ust hear d f r omt he Voi ce, I sai d.
What di d i t say? Nudge asked, eat i ng a r ol l ed- up pi ece of bol ogna.
Angel and Tot al wat ched me i nt ent l y, and Fang st opped t ypi ng.
I t sai d we haven t been seei ng Er aser s because t hey r e al l dead, I sai d bl unt l y.
Ever yone s eyes wi dened t o, um, about t he si ze of di nner pl at es.
What di d i t mean, t hey r e al l dead? Nudge asked.
I shook my head. I don t know. I f i t s not pul l i ng my l eg, t hen I woul d guess i t
meant . . . t hat al l t he Er aser s ar e t aki ng di r t naps. I t hought about Ar i , J eb s son,
who had been Er aser f i ed, and f el t a t uggi ng pai n i n my chest . Poor Ar i . What a sucky
l i f e he d been bor n i nt o. And such a shor t one t oo.
Who ki l l ed t hem? Fang asked, get t i ng t o t he poi nt , as usual .
The Voi ce sai d. . . al l over t he wor l d, ever y br anch of I t ex and t he I nst i t ut e and
t he School - t hey wer e al l t er mi nat i ng t hei r r ecombi nant - DNA exper i ment s. And t hat we
wer e al most t he onl y ones l ef t . I t st ar t ed t o si nk i n, what t hat meant , and a col d
shi ver made me put my ar ms ar ound my knees.
We wer e al l si l ent f or a mi nut e, di gest i ng t hi s.
Then Tot al sai d, Okay, i f anyone asks, I can t t al k, r i ght ?
I r ol l ed my eyes. Oh yeah, t hat l l f ool em.
What ar e we gonna do now? t he Gasman asked. He l ooked ver y wor r i ed and came t o
si t cl oser t o me. I r eached out and f l uf f ed up hi s mohawk, whi ch had gr own out .
We have a mi ssi on, I began, r eady t o psych us al l up f or sol vi ng t hi s puzzl e.
And possi bl y t aki ng out a f ew whi t ecoat s whi l e we wer e at i t .
We need a home, sai d Fang, at al most t he exact same t i me.
What ? I asked, st ar t l ed.
We need t o f i nd a per manent home, Fang sai d ser i ousl y. We can t l ast on t he r un
much l onger . I say scr ew t he mi ssi on. Let t hembl ow up t he wor l d. We can f i nd a
pl ace t o hi de out wher e no one can f i nd us, and we can j ust . . . l i ve.

11
We al l st ar ed at Fang. That was t he l ongest st at ement any of us had ever hear d hi m
ut t er .
We can t f or get t he mi ssi on, I began, j ust as Angel sai d, Yeah! We need a
home!
A home! sai d t he Gasman, l ooki ng t hr i l l ed.
A r eal home, bet t er t han our l ast one, Nudge agr eed happi l y. Wi t h no gr own- ups,
and no school or school uni f or ms.
A home wi t h a yar d and l ot s of gr ass, sai d Tot al . No mor e of t hi s
pebbl es- and- di r t cr ap.
Why was I t he onl y one who needed t o know what was goi ng on, who needed t o
under st and what had happened t o us and why? Af t er ever yt hi ng we d been t hr ough i n
t he l ast f ew mont hs, now t hey wer e r eady t o j ust t hr ow i t al l away? I mean, Angel s
ki dnappi ng, goi ng t o New Yor k, t he subway t unnel s, t he beach, st ayi ng wi t h Anne
Wal ker , goi ng t o t hat school . . .
Oh. Wel l , okay. So t hey mi ght be a l i t t l e t i r ed of t he f ear , pai n, and mayhem, but
st i l l . . .
Page 9
I ggy? I sai d, t r yi ng t o keep t he pl eadi ng out of my voi ce.
Let s see, he sai d, hol di ng out hi s hands as i f t hey wer e a scal e. Hmm. On t he
one hand, we have const ant , desper at e, hear t - poundi ng escapes, day af t er day, never
knowi ng what s goi ng t o happen t o us or whet her we l l even be al i ve t he next day. . .
I f r owned, seei ng wher e he was goi ng wi t h t hi s.
On t he ot her hand, a home: hi dden, saf e, sl eepi ng i n t he same bed ever y ni ght ,
r el axi ng, not havi ng t o f i ght f or our l i ves at a moment s not i ce. . .
Okay, okay, I sai d. You don t have t o r ub i t i n.
They wat ched me, wai t i ng.
What was wi t h Fang? Why was he under mi ni ng me l i ke t hi s? I used t o f eel so
connect ed t o hi m, l i ke he was my absol ut e best f r i end i n t he wor l d, someone who
al ways had my back. Now I l ooked at hi mand f el t as i f I har dl y knew hi m.
Rel uct ant l y I shr ugged one shoul der . What ever . A home, what ever .
The ecst at i c cheer i ng onl y made me f eel wor se.

12
I mnot gi vi ng up t he mi ssi on, I sai d, l oud enough f or Fang, sever al yar ds away,
t o hear me. We wer e onl y about ei ght t housand f eet i n t he ai r , but i t was r eal l y
col d, pr obabl y bel ow f r eezi ng. The wi nd i n my eyes made t hemwat er const ant l y.
I know.
Thi s i s st upi d, I sai d. Looki ng down, I saw t he Pecos Ri ver wi ndi ng l i ke a t hi n,
shi ny snake t hr ough west Texas.
Thei r hopes and dr eams ar en t st upi d, Fang sai d, and I f el t a f l ush war mmy
cheeks.
That s not what I meant , I gr umbl ed. I t s j ust - we wer e on a pat h. Now we r e
j ust l eavi ng t hat pat h. One day I msupposed t o be savi ng t he wor l d, and t he next
I mout l ooki ng f or r eal est at e. I don t get i t . Pl us, t hanks t o your l i t t l e pl an,
we can t spi t wi t hout bei ng spot t ed and r ecogni zed. Wher e was my br ai n when I agr eed
t o t hat one?
Fang opened hi s mout h, but I i nt er r upt ed. Pl us, now, t hanks t o you, we l ef t t he
younger ki ds t o be wat ched over by a bl i nd guy and a t al ki ng dog. I must be i nsane!
I mean, even mor e i nsane t han usual . I mgoi ng back.
I di pped one wi ng, r eady t o make a bi g wheel i ng t ur n, but Fang edged i nt o my way,
hi s f ace set .
You pr omi sed, he sai d, maki ng me scowl . You sai d you d gi ve a qui ck r econ, see
i f we coul d f i nd a pl ace.
I kept up t he scowl , t hankf ul t hat not once i n my whol e l i f e had anyone f el t
compel l ed t o t el l me not t o r ui n my pr et t y f ace l i ke t hat .
Let t hembl ow up t he wor l d, and gl obal - war mi t , and pol l ut e i t , Fang sai d. You
and me and t he ot her s wi l l be hol ed up somewher e, saf e. We l l come back out when
t hey r e al l gone, done pl ayi ng t hei r games of wor l d domi nat i on.
He had posi t i vel y become a chat t er box l at el y.
That s a gr eat pl an. Of cour se, by t hen we won t be abl e t o go out si de because
we l l get f r i ed by t he l ack of ozone l ayer , I sai d, get t i ng wor ked up. We l l be
l i vi ng i n damp caves, eat i ng at t he bot t omof t he f ood chai n because ever yt hi ng wi t h
any f l avor wi l l be f ul l of mer cur y or r adi at i on or somet hi ng!
I r ecogni zed Fang s f ace of exagger at ed pat i ence, whi ch of cour se got on my l ast
ner ve.
And t her e won t be any TV or cabl e because al l t he peopl e wi l l be dead! I was on
a r ol l now. So our onl y ent er t ai nment wi l l be Gazzy si ngi ng t he const i pat i on song!
And t her e won t be amusement par ks and museums and zoos and l i br ar i es and cut e
shoes! We l l be l i ke cavemen, t r yi ng t o weave cl ot hes out of pl ant f i ber s. We l l
have not hi ng! Not hi ng! Al l because you and t he ki ds want t o ki ck back i n a La- Z- Boy
dur i ng t he most i mpor t ant t i me i n hi st or y!
I was pr act i cal l y f r ot hi ng at t he mout h.
Fang l ooked at me. So maybe we shoul d si gn you up f or a weavi ng cl ass. Get a j ump
on al l t hose pl ant f i ber s.
I st ar ed at hi m, saw how he was t r yi ng t o suppr ess hi s l aught er at my vi si on of
t he apocal ypse.
Somet hi ng i nsi de me snapped. My whol e wor l d had got t en t ur ned on i t s head i n t he
l ast t went y- f our hour s. Li ke, my ol d wor l d had sucked so bad, and t hi s wor l d,
amazi ngl y, sucked wor se.
I hat e you! I scr eamed at Fang. Tucki ng my wi ngs i n, I ai med downwar d, di vi ng
Page 10
t owar d t he gr ound at mor e t han t wo hundr ed mi l es an hour .
No you dooonnn t ! Fang s voi ce spi r al ed away i nt o not hi ngness, f ar above me.
I nsi de my head, al most dr owned out by t he r oar of wi nd r ushi ng by my ear s, I hear d
t he Voi ce make a t ski ng sound. You guys ar e cr azy about each ot her , i t sai d.

13
Oh, yeah. No bedt i me. I t s a good t hi ng, Gazzy sang, doi ng a l i t t l e dance.
Look, j ust because Max i sn t her e doesn t mean al l t he r ul es have gone out t he
wi ndow, I ggy sai d, f aci ng hi m. She l ef t me i n char ge, and I mgonna make sur e t o
do ever yt hi ng she woul d- He coul dn t keep a st r ai ght f ace any l onger and cr acked
up, bendi ng over and cl ut chi ng hi s st omach.
Nudge r ol l ed her eyes, and she and Angel shar ed a smi l e. She pi cked up a smal l
handf ul of pebbl es and car ef ul l y st ar t ed di st r i but i ng t hemamong ot her l i t t l e pi l es.
Mancal a, huh? Tot al sai d, l yi ng down next t o t hem. Next t i me we r e i n a st or e,
l et s l i f t some car ds. We coul d pl ay Texas hol d em. I woul d ki ck your but t s. Hi s
smal l , shi ny nose t wi t ched as he wat ched t hempl ay.
That s a good i dea, sai d Nudge, as Angel di st r i but ed her pi l e, t hough she had no
i dea how Tot al woul d hol d t he car ds. Unl ess he had opposabl e t humbs hi dden under hi s
paw f ur . Whi ch, come t o t hi nk of i t , he ver y wel l mi ght . Checki ng behi nd her , she
saw she had enough r oomt o l et her wi ngs st r et ch out a bi t , so she ext ended t hem,
enj oyi ng t he f eel i ng. Ahh.
I want wi ngs, Tot al sai d, not f or t he f i r st t i me. I f I coul d f l y, no one woul d
have t o car r y me. I f t hey coul d gr af t wi ngs ont o t hose bi g l unki ng Er aser s, t hey
coul d def i ni t el y pat ch a pai r ont o me.
I t woul d hur t , Tot al , sai d Angel , st udyi ng t he mancal a game.
Do you t hi nk t he Er aser s ar e r eal l y gone? Nudge asked t hem. I n t he backgr ound,
she hear d I ggy sayi ng, No, see, you need t he spar k t o i gni t e i t . You need t he f l i nt
t o make t he spar k, see?
Gazzy mur mur ed, Yeah, but what about t he bl each? and t hen t hei r voi ces f aded
agai n.
Nudge si ghed. Thi s was t he ki nd of t hi ng she wi shed Max or Fang wer e her e t o
handl e.
Hey, guys? I ggy cal l ed. Nudge l ooked up.
How about a l i t t l e t est f l i ght ? he sai d. A l i t t l e wheel i ng- ar ound l i ke t he
hawks showed us. Okay?
Yeah, okay, sai d Angel . She smi l ed at Nudge. You wer e about t o wi n anyway.
Nudge gr i nned back. I know. St andi ng up, she dust ed of f her j eans and pul l ed her
wi ngs i n t o wal k t o t he end of t he t i ny canyon.
One by one, t he bi r d ki ds l eaped of f t he l edge, f al l i ng downwar d f or a f ew moment s
bef or e haul i ng out t hei r wi ngs, st r ong, l i ght , and cat chi ng t he wi nd i n t hei r
f eat her s. Nudge l oved t hi s f eel i ng, t he sensat i on of power and f r eedom, t he
knowl edge t hat she coul d r i se up f r omt he gr ound l i ke an angel . Any t i me she want ed
t o.
She smi l ed over at Angel , who t ur ned t o smi l e back at her . Then Angel s eyes went
wi de, and her f ace t ook on a l ook of hor r or . Nudge whi r l ed as a l ar ge shadow bl ot t ed
t he l i ght f r omt he f l ock.
A wi de, t hi ck swar mof Er aser s was f l yi ng r i ght t owar d t hem. They wer e back!

14
Ser i ousl y, we have t o t al k, sai d Fang.
I si ghed, l ooki ng up at t he sky. I t s j ust l i ke dol phi ns chi r pi ng, I sai d
r egr et f ul l y, t al ki ng out l oud t o mysel f . I hear sounds, but none of t hemmake
sense.
I put my hands on my hi ps and sur veyed t he scene bel ow us. No wat er sour ce. Let s
go.
Wi t hout wai t i ng f or hi m, I l aunched mysel f of f t he l ow cl i f f , movi ng my wi ngs
power f ul l y, headi ng t owar d t he sun. We d st opped t wi ce al r eady, and nei t her pl ace
had al l t he st uf f we needed: cl ose- by f ood sour ce, wat er , saf et y.
Thi s was compl et el y poi nt l ess, as opposed t o my or i gi nal pl an, whi ch was
compl et el y poi nt ed.
Wi t hout t ur ni ng my head, I gl anced out of t he cor ner s of my eyes t o see Fang s
sl eek wi ngs behi nd me. He was act i ng wei r d. I di dn t t hi nk Fang had been r epl aced by
a cl one t he way I had at one poi nt . Yes, f ol ks, i n my l i f e, t hat s act ual l y a
Page 11
l egi t i mat e concer n. Take a moment and count your bl essi ngs.
Maybe he r eal l y does j ust want t o t al k, sai d t he Voi ce.
Oh, yeah, cause Fang i s al l about t he wor dy shar i ng of f eel i ngs, I t hought back.
Somet hi ng s up, somet hi ng he s not t el l i ng me.
And I woul d get i t out of hi mat t he next pl ace we st opped. Thi s was one myst er y I
coul d sol ve, even i f I had t o beat i t out of hi m.

15
I knew i t was t oo good t o be t r ue, Gazzy yel l ed. The Er aser s al l bei ng dead!
I di dn t f eel t hemcomi ng, Angel sai d, conf used.
Nudge s hear t was poundi ng, t he bl ood r ushi ng i n her ear s. These Er aser s moved
mor e i n sync wi t h one anot her t han t he ot her s t hey had encount er ed, but st i l l
awkwar dl y, choppi l y. Nudge shot a l ast l ook at Angel , t hen soar ed upwar d j ust as t he
Er aser s hi t t hem.
Focus. That s what Max al ways sai d. Focus.
Concent r at i ng, Nudge dr opped down on an Er aser , smashi ng her sneaker ed f eet
agai nst i t s head. Then, whi r l i ng, she cr acked t he har d edge of her hand agai nst i t s
wi ndpi pe. The Er aser made a wei r d noi se and st ar t ed t o l ose al t i t ude.
Nudge! Wat ch i t ! Gazzy scr eamed.
Wham! An i r on- har d punch t o t he r i bs knocked Nudge s br eat h away, and she sucked
i n ai r soundl essl y, t r yi ng not t o pani c. I nst i nct i vel y she r emember ed t o keep movi ng
her wi ngs, st ayi ng al of t l ong enough t o r egai n her br eat h.
But t her e was no t i me- t he Er aser came at her agai n, f i st cocked back t o punch. At
t he l ast second, Nudge dr opped suddenl y, so t hat i t s bi g, hai r y ar mswi shed t hr ough
empt y ai r .
Take t hat , sucker ! she wheezed.
Sur gi ng upwar d, Nudge ki cked i t , ai mi ng f or i t s st omach but act ual l y hi t t i ng
somewhat l ower . The Er aser doubl ed over wi t hout a sound, and Nudge cl asped her hands
t oget her and br ought t hemdown on t he back of i t s neck as har d as she coul d.
Ow! Angel s cr y of pai n made Nudge whi r l , and she saw t he smal l est member of t he
f l ock bei ng hel d by one ar mas she i nef f ect ual l y t r i ed t o ki ck her capt or .
Nudge r ushed over but was beat en t her e by I ggy, f ol l owi ng t he sound of Angel s
voi ce. Toget her t hey pummel ed t he Er aser , and I ggy chopped down on t he ar mhol di ng
Angel . Wi t h a st r ange r oar , t he Er aser t ur ned and pul l ed back i t s ar m, and t hen made
an odd st r angl ed sound.
Looki ng down, Nudge saw Tot al chompi ng on t he Er aser s ankl e, shaki ng hi s head
even as he dangl ed t her e, hi gh above t he gr ound- wi t h no wi ngs.
Get hi m, she whi sper ed t o Angel , who nodded and qui ckl y dr opped t en f eet . The
Er aser shook i t s l eg, but Tot al cl osed hi s eyes and cl amped down har der , gr owl i ng
f i er cel y. J udgi ng f r omt he ot her muf f l ed sounds, he was al so swear i ng a bl ue st r eak.
Yo! yel l ed t he Gasman, cat chi ng ever yone s at t ent i on. Fi r e i n t he hol e!

16
Nudge s si de was ki l l i ng her , and she st i l l f el t l ow on oxygen. But exper i ence had
t aught t hat when Gazzy or I ggy sai d somet hi ng l i ke t hat , you ducked and cover ed as
f ast as you coul d. So she f ol ded i n her wi ngs, i mmedi at el y dr oppi ng l i ke a st one.
A good t hi r t y f eet down, she unf ur l ed her wi ngs and shot t o one si de, j ust as
Gazzy pushed an Er aser away f r omhi mwi t h a mut t er ed Oof ! Angel had gr abbed Tot al ,
I ggy had gr abbed Angel , and t hey wer e haul i ng upwar d l i ke pocket r ocket s.
Ther e wer e f i ve Er aser s l ef t - Nudge guessed t hey d di sposed of about hal f of t hem.
Her r i bs f el t br oken, she wi shed Max and Fang wer e her e, and she di dn t know wh-
BOOM!
Gr oss! Nudge shr i eked, as bi t s of Er aser hi t her . Gr oss, gr oss, gr oss! Oh, God,
Gazzy! Gr oss!
Nudge wor ked her wi ngs, movi ng up t owar d I ggy. She passed one mai n chunk of an
Er aser dr oppi ng past her , and saw t wo ot her s t hat had been wounded- one s wi ng was
br oken al most of f , and t he ot her appear ed t o be mi ssi ng a l eg.
But i t was wei r d, t he way-
You have t er mi nat ed me, one of t hemsai d i n a st r ange, f l at voi ce. But I amone
of many.
Robot s! I ggy br eat hed, t aki ng Tot al f r omAngel .
One of many, one of many, one of many, t he r obot Er aser was sayi ng. Now Nudge
saw t he r ed l i ght i n i t s eyes, saw how t hey wer e f adi ng and wi nki ng out .
Page 12
Good! spat t he Gasman, ki cki ng i t har d. Because we l i ke t o bl ow st uf f up, bl ow
st uf f up, bl ow st uf f up!
Then al l t he r emai ni ng Er aser s seemed t o f ol d i n on t hemsel ves, as i f pr ogr ammed,
and dr opped out of si ght . A l ong, l ong t i me l at er , t he f l ock saw t he smal l poof s of
dust and di r t showi ng t hat t hey d f i nal l y hi t t he canyon f l oor .
Wel l , t hat was di f f er ent , I ggy sai d.
And so gr oss! Nudge sai d, st i l l br ushi ng Er aser shar ds of f her sel f .

17
What ar e you t hi nki ng about ? Fang s qui et voi ce bar el y car r i ed t o me over t he
cr ackl i ng of t he f i r e.
I mt hi nki ng about how much easi er i t was when ever yone j ust di d what I t ol d t hem,
I t hought sour l y. Wonder i ng i f t he ki ds ar e okay, I sai d.
That pl ace was way secl uded and easy t o def end. And i f t he Er aser s ar e al l
dead. . . Fang pul l ed a st i ck out of t he f i r e and bl ew on a cr i sp pi ece of r oast ed
r abbi t .
Yes, r abbi t . We d caught i t , and now we wer e goi ng t o eat i t . I won t go i nt o al l
t he st eps i n bet ween. The t hi ng i s, when you have t o sur vi ve, you have t o sur vi ve. I
hope you never need t o f i nd t hat out f or your sel f .
He handed t he st i ck t o me, and I st ar t ed gnawi ng, gr i nni ng at how sur pr i si ngl y f ew
et i quet t e r ul es seemed t o appl y her e. Then I st ar t ed l aughi ng.
Fang l ooked at me.
Thanksgi vi ng at Anne s, I sai d. Si t up st r ai ght , napki n i n l ap, wai t f or
ever yone t o be ser ved, say gr ace, t ake smal l amount s, use t he sal ad f or k, no
bur pi ng.
I waved a hand ar ound t he dust y cave, wher e we squat t ed by a f i r e, t ear i ng of f
st r i ps of Thumper wi t h our t eet h.
Fang gave a hal f smi l e and nodded. At l east i t i sn t deser t r at .
Okay, you si ssi es i n t he back, t he ones goi ng Eew! Let s see you go wi t hout
anyt hi ng t o eat f or t hr ee days, especi al l y i f you r e a bi ol ogi cal anomal y who needs
t hr ee t housand cal or i es a day mi ni mum, and t hen someone pr esent s you wi t h a hot ,
smoky, char r ed pi ece of r at au j us. You d scar f i t down so f ast you d bur n your
t ongue. Ther e woul d be no qui bbl i ng about ket chup ei t her .
You know what t hey say about r at , I began.
Ever yone get s a dr umst i ck, Fang and I f i ni shed t oget her .
I l ooked at Fang, hi s shar p, angul ar f ace cast wi t h shadows f r omt he f i r e. I d
gr own up wi t h hi m, I t r ust ed no one mor e t han hi m, I depended on hi m. And now we
f el t a l i t t l e l i ke st r anger s.
I moved away f r omt he f i r e and sat down wi t h my back agai nst t he cave wal l . Fang
wi ped hi s hands on hi s j eans and came t o si t next t o me. Out si de, i t was ni ght t i me,
t he st ar s bl ot t ed out by t hi ck, r ol l i ng cl ouds. Thi s pl ace pr obabl y got onl y a f ew
i nches of r ai n a year , and i t l ooked l i ke i t was about t o get some. I hoped t he r est
of t he f l ock was cur l ed up saf e and war mwher e we had l ef t t hem.
What ar e we doi ng her e, Fang?
The ki ds want us t o f i nd a pl ace t o set t l e down.
What about t he School and savi ng t he wor l d? I asked wi t h scal pel - l i ke del i cacy.
We have t o qui t pl ayi ng t hei r game, Fang sai d sof t l y, wat chi ng t he f i r e. We
have t o r emove our sel ves f r omt he equat i on.
I can t , I admi t t ed i n f r ust r at i on. I - j ust have t o do t hi s.
Max, you can change your mi nd. Hi s voi ce was l i ke aut umn l eaves dr oppi ng l i ght l y
ont o t he gr ound.
I don t know how.
Then my t hr oat f el t t i ght , and I r ubbed my f i st s agai nst my eyes. I dr opped my
f ace ont o my ar ms, cr ossed over my knees. Thi s sucked! I want ed t o be back wi t h t he
ot h-
Fang s hand gent l y smoot hed my hai r of f my neck. My br eat h f r oze i n my chest , and
ever y sense seemed hyper al er t . Hi s hand st r oked my hai r agai n, so sof t l y, and t hen
t r ai l ed acr oss my neck and shoul der and down my back, maki ng me shi ver .
I l ooked up. What t he heck ar e you doi ng?
Hel pi ng you change your mi nd, he whi sper ed, and t hen he l eaned over , t i l t ed my
chi n up, and ki ssed me.

18
Page 13
At t hat moment , I had no mi nd t o change, or not change, or t hr ow agai nst t he
near est wal l . My mi nd had shor t ed out as soon as Fang s l i ps t ouched mi ne. Hi s mout h
was war mand f i r m, hi s hand gent l e on my neck.
I d ki ssed hi monce bef or e, when I t hought he was dyi ng on a beach. But t hat had
l ast ed a second. Thi s was. . . goi ng on and on.
I r eal i zed I was get t i ng di zzy, and t hen r eal i zed i t was because I hadn t t aken a
br eat h yet . I t seemed l i ke an hour bef or e we br oke apar t . We wer e bot h br eat hi ng
r aggedl y, and I st ar ed i nt o hi s eyes as i f I woul d f i nd answer s t her e.
Whi ch of cour se I di dn t . Al l I saw was t he danci ng f l ames of our smal l f i r e.
Fang cl ear ed hi s t hr oat , l ooki ng as sur pr i sed as I f el t . For get t he mi ssi on, he
sai d, hi s voi ce bar el y audi bl e. Let s j ust al l be saf e somewher e t oget her .
And boy, di d t hat seeml i ke a swel l i dea j ust t hen. We coul d be l i ke Tar zan and
J ane, swi ngi ng t hr ough a j ungl e, snaggi ng bananas r i ght of f a t r ee, l i vi ng at one
wi t h nat ur e, l a- di - da-
Tar zan and J ane and t hei r band of mer r y mut ant s!
Fang s hand was maki ng sl ow, war mci r cl es bet ween my wi ngs, and t hat pl us t he
hypnot i c f i r e and t he st r ess of t he day al l combi ned t o make me t i r ed and unabl e t o
t hi nk st r ai ght .
What does he want f r omme? I t hought . I hal f expect ed t he Voi ce t o chi me i n her e,
sur e i t had been eavesdr oppi ng on t hi s whol e embar r assi ng scene.
Now Fang was r ubbi ng my neck. I was bot h exhaust ed and hyper awar e, and j ust as he
l eaned i n- t o ki ss me agai n?- I j umped t o my f eet .
He l ooked up at me.
I - I mnot sur e about t hi s, I mut t er ed. How s t hat f or si l ver - t ongued r api er wi t ,
eh? Over r eact i ng i mpr essi vel y, I r aced t o t he f r ont of t he cave and l aunched mysel f
out i nt o t he ni ght , unf ur l i ng my wi ngs, f eel i ng t he wi nd agai nst my bur ni ng f ace,
hear i ng t he r ush of ai r al l ar ound me.
Fang di dn t f ol l ow, t hough when I gl anced back I saw hi s t al l , l ean f or mst andi ng
i n t he cave ent r ance, hi ghl i ght ed by t he f i r e.
Not t oo f ar away, I f ound a nar r ow r ock l edge, wel l hi dden i n t he ni ght , and I
col l apsed t her e i n t ear s, f eel i ng conf used and upset , and exci t ed and hopef ul , and
appal l ed.
Ah, t he j oys of bei ng an adol escent hybr i d r unaway.

19
What was Fang goi ng t o do, bl og about Max t hr owi ng her sel f out i nt o space j ust so
she woul dn t have t o ki ss hi magai n? No! I nst ead he smashed hi s f i st agai nst t he
cave wal l , t hen gr i maced wi t h t he pai n and st upi di t y, seei ng hi s bl oodi ed knuckl es,
t he al most i nst ant swel l i ng.
He banked t he f i r e, keepi ng a smal l pi l e of ember s gl owi ng i n case she came back
and needed hel p f i ndi ng t he ent r ance. Nei t her was l i kel y.
He ki cked most of t he r ocks of f a Fang- si zed pl ace and l ay down, r ubbi ng hi s wi ngs
agai nst t he f i ne si l t because i t f el t good. He di dn t want t o check hi s bl og- he d
had al most ei ght hundr ed t housand hi t s ear l i er - di dn t want t o do anyt hi ng except l i e
st i l l and t hi nk.
Max.
God, but she was st ubbor n. And t ough. And cl osed i n. Cl osed of f . Except when she
was hol di ng Angel , or r uf f l i ng t he Gasman s hai r , or pushi ng somet hi ng cl oser t o
I ggy s hand so he coul d f i nd i t easi l y wi t hout knowi ng anyone had hel ped hi m. Or
when she was t r yi ng t o unt angl e Nudge s mane of hai r . Or - somet i mes- when she was
l ooki ng at Fang.
He shi f t ed on t he har d gr ound, a hal f - dozen f l ashes of memor y cycl i ng t hr ough hi s
br ai n. Max l ooki ng at hi mand l aughi ng. Max l eapi ng of f a cl i f f , snappi ng out her
wi ngs, f l yi ng of f , so i ncr edi bl y power f ul and gr acef ul t hat i t t ook hi s br eat h away.
Max punchi ng someone s l i ght s out , her f ace l i ke st one.
Max ki ssi ng t hat wei ner Samon Anne s f r ont por ch.
Gr i t t i ng hi s t eet h, Fang r ol l ed ont o hi s si de.
Max ki ssi ng hi mon t he beach, af t er Ar i had ki cked Fang s but t .
J ust now, her mout h sof t under hi s.
He wi shed she wer e her e, i f not next t o hi m, t hen somewher e i n t he cave, so he
coul d hear her br eat hi ng.
I t was goi ng t o be har d t o sl eep wi t hout t hat t oni ght .

Page 14
20
Bef or e Fang t ook t he comput er wi t h hi m, and bef or e t hey d al most got t en nai l ed by
r obot Er aser s, Nudge had been r eadi ng campi ng r eci pes onl i ne. She was t i r ed of
Di ng- Dongs and hot dogs on a st i ck.
She d f ound out t hat you coul d do amazi ng st uf f , l i ke cooki ng whol e meal s wr apped
i n f oi l i n t he ember s of a f i r e. She deci ded t o get a f r yi ng pan next t i me she had a
chance. I t woul dn t be t oo har d t o car r y ar ound one l i t t l e f r yi ng pan, woul d i t ? And
i f t hey had a f r yi ng pan, I ggy coul d make al most anyt hi ng. J ust t hi nki ng about i t
was maki ng her st omach r umbl e.
That smel l s good, sai d Angel , comi ng over t o kneel by t he f i r e. I s t hat what
t hat f oi l was f or ?
Uh- huh, Nudge sai d, poki ng at t he f oi l package wi t h a st i ck.
The next second, t he wani ng sun bl i nked out .
They bot h l ooked up i n sur pr i se, and Gazzy and I ggy st opped pl ayi ng t i c- t ac- t oe.
Angel dr ew i n her br eat h so f ast i t sounded l i ke a whi st l e. Nudge f el t l i ke her
own br eat h had t ur ned t o a chunk of concr et e i n her t hr oat , because she coul dn t
make a sound, coul dn t move.
Hundr eds of t hose r obot t hi ngs, t he t hi ngs t hat I ggy cal l ed Fl yboys, wer e cover i ng
t he sky above t hei r canyon and comi ng i n bot h ends. Nudge guessed t he f ew t hat had
sur vi ved t he ear l i er f i ght had gone t o get r ei nf or cement s. Ther e must have been t en
t i mes as many t hi s t i me.
The f l ock was t r apped.
Di nner s r eady, sai d Angel . And i t s us.

21
Up and away? I ggy asked, and Gazzy answer ed, No! They r e above us t oo!
Ever ywher e!
Nudge s ear s wer e f i l l ed wi t h a hor r i bl e dr oni ng sound, l i ke a t housand bees, and
as t he Fl yboys dr opped cl oser , i t st ar t ed t o sound l i ke chant i ng, l i ke, We ar e
many! You cannot wi n!
We can sur e as heck t r y! Gazzy yel l ed. Leani ng down, he gr abbed a bunch of
st i cks f r omt he f i r e and t hr ew t hemi nt o t he ai r . Sever al of t he Fl yboys caught
f i r e. Excel l ent . They wer e f l ammabl e!
Nudge r aced over and gr abbed some bur ni ng st i cks t oo, but she hel d one t oo cl ose
and si nged her hand. St i l l , she t hr ew t hemi nt o t he ai r as har d as she coul d,
wat chi ng i n amazement as Fl yboys bur st i nt o f l ame.
Cool ! Gazzy gr i nned, f or get t i ng t o pani c f or a moment . I t s l i ke t hey wer e
di pped i n gasol i ne!
They don t have mi nds, Angel sai d.
Nudge l ooked at her .
They don t have mi nds, Angel expl ai ned agai n, upset . I can t do anyt hi ng.
Wel l , I can bi t e em! Tot al cr i ed, r aci ng i n ci r cl es ar ound t hei r f eet . Let me
at em! Let me get my f angs on em! He made l i t t l e l eaps i nt o t he ai r , snappi ng hi s
j aws.
Tot al ! Angel sai d. Be car ef ul ! Come back!
Let me t each ema l esson! Tot al yel l ed.
The f l ock f ought har d- of cour se. Max had t aught t hemt o f i ght , t o never , ever gi ve
up. Unl ess r unni ng away made mor e sense, she d al ways added.
Runni ng away woul d have been so gr eat , Nudge t hought , but i n t hi s case t her e was
nowher e t o r un. The canyon was cl ogged wi t h Fl yboys. They seemed t o be most l y met al
wi t h a t hi n Er aser cover i ng on t he out si de. The ones t hat had bur ned wer e al l met al
now, t hei r ski n and f ur char r ed and shr i vel ed agai nst t hem, smel l i ng god- awf ul .
I ggy t hr ew ever y bomb he had ( Nudge had no i dea wher e he d been hi di ng t hem, and
she bet Max di dn t know about t hemei t her ) , but al l t he bombs dest r oyed onl y f i f t een
or t went y Fl yboys. Not enough, nowher e cl ose t o enough.
The f l ock was caught . Maybe i f Max and Fang had been t her e, i t woul d have t aken
t he r obot s anot her mi nut e or t wo. That s how bad i t was, how hopel ess.
Wi t hi n t went y mi nut es, t he f l ock had been duct - t aped i nt o unmovi ng bundl es, even
Tot al . Then Fl yboys gr abbed t hemand t ook t o t he ai r , f l yi ng l i ke bi g t oast er s or
somet hi ng.
Nudge saw I ggy, Gazzy, Angel , and Tot al , t hei r mout hs t aped shut l i ke her s.
Don t wor r y. Angel sent t he t hought out t o each of t hem. Don t wor r y. Max and Fang
wi l l come back. They l l f i nd us. They l l be r eal l y mad t oo.
Page 15
Nudge t r i ed not t o t hi nk, so Angel woul dn t be mor e scar ed, but she wasn t abl e t o
shut her br ai n down compl et el y. So Angel mi ght have f el t her t hi nk: Not even Max and
Fang can get us out of t hi s. No one can. Thi s i s t he end.

22
I went back t o Fang t he next mor ni ng and pr et ended t hat not hi ng had happened, t hat
my l i t t l e DNA- enhanced hear t hadn t gone al l af l ut t er and t hat I hadn t i magi ned
mysel f i n a hoopski r t , comi ng down t he st ai r s at Tar a l i ke Scar l et t O Har a.
Nope. Not my st yl e. I nst ead I showed up, ski ddi ng on my l andi ng, sendi ng gr i t and
pebbl es ever ywher e, and sai d, Let s r ol l !
Toppi ng t he l i st of t hor ns i n my si de f or t oday wer e:
1) Wei r dness bet ween me and Fang
2) Wor r y about l eavi ng t he f l ock
3) Gnawi ng sense of pr essur e about get t i ng back t o t he mi ssi on
4) The usual : f ood, shel t er , saf et y, l i f e expect ancy, et c.
5) And t hen, of cour se, t hat whol e act ual savi ng- t he- wor l d t hi ng
Gosh, i t was har d t o f i gur e out what t o wor r y about f i r st . Ever yt hi ng want i ng t o
cont r i but e t o my ul cer , Get i n l i ne and t ake a number !
You r e qui et . Fang br oke i nt o my t hought s. Bel ow us, bar r en mi l es of mount ai ns,
pl ai ns, I ndi an r eser vat i ons, and deser t l ooked l i ke wr i nkl es on a di r t - col or ed
t abl ecl ot h.
I gl anced at hi m. Enj oy i t whi l e you can.
Max. He wai t ed t i l l I l ooked at hi magai n. The one t hi ng we have i s each ot her .
The one t hi ng we can depend on, no mat t er what . We have t o. . . t al k about st uf f .
I woul d pr et t y much r at her have been t or n apar t by wi l d ani mal s. I l i ked i t
bet t er when you di dn t t al k, I sai d. I mean, t her e s a r eason peopl e don t l ook
under r ocks, you know?
Meani ng what ? He sounded i r r i t at ed. We r e goi ng t o pr et end not hi ng s goi ng on?
That s st upi d. The onl y way t o deal wi t h any of t hi s i s t o get i t out i n t he open.
Ugh. Have you been wat chi ng Opr ah agai n?
Now I had made hi mmad, and he f el l si l ent . I was r el i eved, but I knew t hi s
subj ect wasn t cl osed. Then my eyes r egi st er ed t he par t i cul ar ar ea we wer e f l yi ng
over at hi gh speed. I t was a l i t t l e har d t o t el l wher e Ar i zona l ef t of f and
Cal i f or ni a began- you d t hi nk t hey woul d j ust go ahead and pai nt t hose bl ue map l i nes
ever ywher e, di vvyi ng up t he st at es- but I r ecogni zed t hi s pl ace.
Goi ng down! I announced, angl i ng my body and t ucki ng my wi ngs behi nd me.
Fang f ol l owed me wi t hout comment . I coul d pr act i cal l y f eel t he st r ong wr i ng her
neck vi bes comi ng f r omhi m, but i t wasn t t he f i r st t i me he d been r eal l y angr y at
me, and God knew i t woul dn t be t he l ast .
I l anded at t he edge of a woods near a di nky l i t t l e Ar i zona t own and st ar t ed
wal ki ng west . Af t er t wo mi nut es I st opped, l ooki ng st r ai ght ahead at a smal l , t i dy
house sur r ounded by a somewhat scr aggl y yar d.
Max, you r e maki ng a ser i ous mi st ake, sai d t he Voi ce. Get up and get out of her e
r i ght now. Get back t o your mi ssi on. I mver y ser i ous about t hi s.
I i gnor ed i t , emot i ons st ar t i ng t o swi r l i nsi de me.
Wher e ar e we? Fang whi sper ed.
At El l a s house, I sai d, har dl y abl e t o bel i eve i t mysel f . And Dr . Mar t i nez.

23
I f we can al l f l y, why ar e we i n t he back of a semi ? I ggy whi sper ed.
He was r ewar ded by havi ng one of t he Fl yboys ki ck hi mhar d i n t he r i bs. Oof !
Nudge wi nced, pr act i cal l y f eel i ng hi s pai n wi t h hi m. Si nce he was bl i nd, he
coul dn t see her f ace or t he sympat hy she was t r yi ng t o send hi s way.
Ever yt hi ng hur t . Nudge di dn t know how l ong t hey d been l yi ng on t he f l oor i n t he
back of t hi s bi g t r uck, f eel i ng ever y bump i n t he r oad. They d been t i ed up f or
hour s, and she coul dn t f eel her hands anymor e. Ever y t i me t he t r uck bounced, her
shoul der or her hi p banged agai nst t he har d f l oor , and she was sur e she d have
humongous br ui ses. They al l woul d.
Af t er t he Fl yboys had gr abbed t hem, t hey d put cl ot h hoods over t hei r heads. Nudge
had smel l ed somet hi ng si ckl y sweet . She d gr own di zzy and t hen passed out . She d
woken up i n t he t r uck, headi ng God knew wher e. Wel l , pr obabl y t he School . Or t he
Page 16
I nst i t ut e.
Ei t her way, i t was goi ng t o be a l ong dr i ve. Whi ch meant she coul d l i e her e and
dr ead what was comi ng mi nut e af t er mi nut e, hour af t er hour .
What was comi ng: a cage. Awf ul , scar y, r eal l y pai nf ul exper i ment s, usual l y
i nvol vi ng needl es. Nudge t r i ed not t o whi mper , t hi nki ng about i t . Chemi cal smel l s.
Whi t ecoat s. Fl ashi ng l i ght s, scar y sounds. Knowi ng i t was happeni ng t o t he r est of
t he f l ock. And no Max, no Fang.
And al l of t hi s, bei ng bound, seei ng t he r est of her f l ock al so bound and i n pai n,
not knowi ng wher e Max and Fang wer e or even i f t hey d be abl e t o f i nd t he f l ock
agai n- al l of t hat st uf f wasn t even t he wor st par t .
The wor st par t was t hat when she d woken up, when she d count ed heads i n t he
t r uck, t her e had been onl y t hr ee.
Angel was mi ssi ng.

24
I t wasn t as t hough t hey had saved my l i f e or anyt hi ng- El l a and Dr . Mar t i nez. I t
was wor se: They had shown me what l i f e coul d be l i ke i n Nor mal Land. I t had haunt ed
me ever si nce I d l ef t t hem.
What day was t hi s? No cl ue. Woul d Dr . Mar t i nez be at wor k?
I l et my mi nd f ocus on t hi s quest i on i n or der t o avoi d t he bi gger , scar i er
quest i on: Woul d t hey even want t o see me agai n?
Or , ni ght mar e: Had somet hi ng bad happened t o t hembecause t hey d shel t er ed me
bef or e?
J ust l i ke t he f i r st t i me, I st ood f r ozen on t he edge of t hei r yar d, unabl e t o wi l l
mysel f f or war d, t o knock on t he door .
Max, began t he Voi ce, and I answer ed i t i nsi de my head. You r e t he one who sai d
connect i ons wer e i mpor t ant , I r emi nded i t . Wel l , I mher e t o make some connect i ons.
Deal wi t h i t .
What t he heck ar e we doi ng her e? Fang s t one of mi l d cur i osi t y meant t hat he was
so st unned he was about t o f al l over .
I had no answer f or hi m. I di dn t even have an answer f or mysel f .
Then, j ust l i ke t he f i r st t i me agai n, f at e st epped i n; or r at her , Dr . Mar t i nez
st epped out of her f r ont door . She bl i nked i n t he br i ght sun, t hen t ur ned t o l ock
t he door behi nd her . Then she paused, as i f l i st eni ng, or sensi ng somet hi ng: moi .
Behi nd me, Fang i nst i nct i vel y f aded i nt o t he woods, wher e he woul d be i nvi si bl e
among t he shadows.
Sl owl y Dr . Mar t i nez t ur ned, whi l e I st ood t ense and al most quaki ng at t he edge of
her yar d. Her deep br own eyes swept t he ar ea and f l ashed on me al most i mmedi at el y.
Then her mout h opened soundl essl y. I made out t he wor d Max.

25
Then Dr . Mar t i nez and I wer e r unni ng t owar d each ot her , and i t f el t l i ke i t was
al l happeni ng i n sl ow mot i on. I had pl anned on a cool , casual Yo? Wha s happ ni n ?
But t hat dr eamwas gone, gone, gone, baby. I nst ead I cl ung t i ght l y t o her , t r yi ng
not t o cr y, t aki ng a wei r d, deep, t er r i f yi ng sat i sf act i on f r omt he sensat i on of her
hol di ng me.
Her hand st r oked my hai r as she whi sper ed, Max, Max, Max, you ve come back. Her
voi ce sounded br oken, and I di dn t t r ust mysel f t o speak.
Then I r emember ed I was i ndul gi ng i n t hi s r evol t i ng di spl ay of sacchar i ne emot i on
r i ght i n f r ont of Fang. Who woul d pr obabl y never l et me hear t he end of i t . I t ur ned
and l ooked t owar d t he woods. Wi t h my r apt or vi si on, I coul d bar el y make out hi s di m
out l i ne.
I r ai sed my hand t o hi m, and Dr . Mar t i nez s gaze shot t owar d t he woods.
Max? Ar e you okay? she asked, her eyes on t he t r ees and shadows.
Yes. I - I di dn t mean t o come back, I sai d hesi t ant l y. But - I . . . We wer e i n t he
nei ghbor hood. . . .
Dr . Mar t i nez s eyes wi dened when a st i f f - f aced Fang sl owl y emer ged f r omt he woods,
as i f a shadow had t aken f or mand come t o l i f e. How s t hat f or a l i t t l e bi r d- ki d
i mager y, eh? The soul of a poet , t hat s me!
Thi s i s my. . . br ot her , Fang, I mut t er ed, st umbl i ng over t he wor d br ot her . Because
he d ki ssed me. And no sout her n j okes, pl ease. I ck.
Fang? Dr . Mar t i nez sai d, gi vi ng hi ma sl ow smi l e, war mi ng up my day. She hel d
out her hand, and he came t owar d us as i f dr agged by an i nvi si bl e r ope, as t ense and
Page 17
unyi el di ng as I d ever seen hi m. Whi ch i s sayi ng somet hi ng.
He st opped about t wo yar ds f r omus and di dn t t ake her hand.
Fang? Ar e you- l i ke Max? asked Dr . Mar t i nez.
Nope, he sai d, soundi ng bor ed. I mt he smar t one.
I r esi st ed t he ur ge t o ki ck hi s shi n.
Wel l , come i n, bot h of you, sai d Dr . Mar t i nez, soundi ng exci t ed and bemused and
awest r uck. I was goi ng t o r un t o t he gr ocer y st or e bef or e El l a got home f r om
school . But t hat can wai t .
I nsi de, t he house seemed mor e f ami l i ar t o me t han Anne Wal ker s, t hough I d onl y
been her e maybe f or t y- ei ght hour s, mont hs ago. Maybe because i t had f el t l i ke home,
t he f i r st r eal home I d ever been i n.
Behi nd me, Fang st ood cl ose t o t he door , t aki ng i n ever y det ai l , cat al ogui ng
exi t s, pl anni ng cour ses of act i on i n case vi ol ence br oke out . As i t t ended t o do
ar ound us.
Ar e you guys hungr y? asked Dr . Mar t i nez, t aki ng of f her j acket and put t i ng down
her pur se. I coul d make you sandwi ches.
That woul d be gr eat , I sai d, my st omach gr owl i ng at t he t hought .
Fang sni f f ed t he ai r . What s t hat . . . scent , t hat . . .
Dr . Mar t i nez and I smi l ed at each ot her .
Chocol at e- chi p cooki es, we sai d at t he same t i me.

26
So, you have your pr i ce, I sai d t o Fang, speaki ng ar ound a mout hf ul of cr umbs.
Your soul f or a cooki e.
Maki ng sur e Dr . Mar t i nez wasn t l ooki ng, Fang shot me t he bi r d and t ook anot her
bi t e, cl ear l y savor i ng t he war mchewi ness, t he not es of vani l l a, t he semi mel t ed
chocol at e chunks. I gr i nned at hi m, t hen st uck out my t ongue.
Dr . Mar t i nez sat down at t he t abl e wi t h us and di pped a cooki e i nt o her mug of
cof f ee. She pat t ed my ar m. I mr eal l y gl ad t o see you agai n, Max, she sai d, wi t h
so much si ncer i t y t hat I bl ushed. You know, t her e have been r epor t s about mut ant
f l yi ng chi l dr en i n t he news l at el y.
I nodded. Yeah. We keep f or get t i ng t he l i e l ow and hi de par t of our pl an.
Do you have a pl an? she asked, concer n on her f ace. What ar e you doi ng now? Ar e
t her e mor e of you?
J ust l i ke t hat , my nat ur al i nst i nct s f or secr ecy and sel f - pr ot ect i on ki cked i n,
and I f el t my f ace shut down. Next t o me, Fang st i f f ened i n mi dchew.
Dr . Mar t i nez had no pr obl emr eadi ng my expr essi on.
Never mi nd, she sai d qui ckl y. For get I asked. I j ust . . . wi sh I coul d hel p i n
some way.
Dr . Mar t i nez was a vet er i nar i an, and she d t r eat ed me f or a gunshot wound at her
cl i ni c. She was t he one who d di scover ed, when she di d an X- r ay, t he mi cr ochi p i n my
ar m.
Maybe you can, I sai d. Remember my chi p?
The one i n your ar m? Dr . Mar t i nez f r owned. Do you st i l l have i t ?
Yeah. And I st i l l want i t out .
She f i ni shed her cooki e and dr ank some cof f ee, t hi nki ng i t t hr ough. Si nce you
l ef t , I ve exami ned your X- r ay a hundr ed t i mes. She smi l ed. I di dn t t hi nk I d
ever see you agai n, but i t dr ove me cr azy- I had t o f i gur e i t out . I ve l ooked and
l ooked at i t , t r yi ng t o see i f t her e s any way t o t ake out t he chi p wi t hout damagi ng
your ner ves so badl y t hat you d l ose t he use of your hand.
Di d you come up wi t h somet hi ng? I was pr act i cal l y qui ver i ng wi t h ant i ci pat i on.
Her shoul der s sagged sl i ght l y. I mnot posi t i ve. I t seems l i ke I coul d possi bl y
do i t wi t h mi cr osur ger y, but . . .
Do i t , I sai d qui ckl y. Do i t now.
I f el t Fang l ooki ng at me, but I st ayed f ocused on Dr . Mar t i nez.
I want t hi s chi p out , I sai d, hat i ng t he pl eadi ng sound i n my voi ce. I don t
car e what i t does.
You can t r i sk l osi ng t he use of your hand, sai d t he Voi ce.
For some r eason I was f i ndi ng i t par t i cul ar l y annoyi ng t oday. Why? I t hought ,
sar casmdr i ppi ng. You t hi nk I can t save t he wor l d wi t h one hand t i ed behi nd my
back?
Dr . Mar t i nez l ooked hesi t ant , t oo caut i ous t o t ake r i sks.
Suddenl y Fang gr abbed my l ef t hand and t ur ned i t over , bar i ng my f or ear mon t he
Page 18
t abl e. The angr y r ed scar s f r omwhen I had sawed at my ar mwi t h a br oken seashel l
f l amed up at us, pucker ed and ugl y. Heat f l ushed my f ace, and I t r i ed t o pul l my ar m
away.
Oh, t hat , I mut t er ed, awar e of Dr . Mar t i nez s wi de, hor r i f i ed eyes.
She t r i ed t o cut i t out her sel f , Fang sai d t er sel y. Al most bl ed out , on a
beach. Take i t out , so she won t be such a mor on agai n. Or at l east not i n t hat same
way. Maybe i n a di f f er ent way, he acknowl edged r eal i st i cal l y.
I f r owned f i er cel y at hi m, hat i ng t he l ook of const er nat i on on Dr . Mar t i nez s
f ace. Then I gl ar ed at her , dar i ng her t o expr ess pi t y. I swear , I woul d knock t hei r
t wo heads t oget her i f -
I can t r y, she sai d.

27
Wher e s Angel ? Gazzy s whi sper was bar el y a br eat h i n Nudge s ear .
Don t know, she br eat hed back.
The t r uck st opped, and t he back door s opened. I t was dayl i ght . The Fl yboys r i di ng
i n t he back wi t h t hemcl i mbed out , t hen sl ammed t he heavy met al door s, maki ng
Nudge s ear s r i ng.
Ages l at er , t he door s opened agai n, and a Fl yboy t hr ew i n some pi eces of br ead and
some f r ui t t hat was hal f r ot t en. The door s sl ammed shut agai n. Ther e was cr eepy
l aught er out si de.
Despi t e t he bl ackness i nsi de t he t r uck, Nudge coul d see pr et t y wel l , and so coul d
Gazzy. They wr i ggl ed over t o t he pi eces of br ead. Nudge was so hungr y she f el t si ck.
Even wi t h t hei r hands t i ed behi nd t hei r backs, t hey managed t o wol f down ever y bi t
of t he st al e br ead and al l but t he gr ossest par t s of t he f r ui t .
When we get out of t hi s, ever y one of t hose r obot s i s gonna have f ang mar ks on
em, mut t er ed Tot al . Hi s paws wer e t r ussed wi t h duct t ape.
We l l never get out of t hi s one, sai d I ggy. I have a r eal l y bad f eel i ng.
Nudge coul dn t r emember hear i ng I ggy sound so def eat ed. He was one of t he ol der
ki ds, l i ke Fang and Max. Most t he t i me she f or got he was bl i nd. He was st r ong,
power f ul , and a mean f i ght er . Hear i ng hi msay t hat made Nudge f eel as t hough a col d
f i st gr i pped her f ast - beat i ng hear t .
We l l get out . Nudge wi shed f or t he t housandt h t i me t hat t he door s woul d bur st
open and Max and Fang woul d be st andi ng t her e.
I ggy was si l ent .
We have t o f i nd Angel , Gazzy whi sper ed. We can t l et t hemdo. . . al l t he st uf f
t hey di d t o her l ast t i me.
Angel had been a mess when t hey d r escued her l ast t i me. I t had t aken her weeks t o
r ecover . And si nce t hen, she d been di f f er ent somehow. Sadder . Qui et er .
The t hought of what t hey mi ght al r eady be doi ng t o Angel made Nudge shi ver .
We need a pl an, she sai d under her br eat h. Max and Fang woul d make a pl an.
Let s t hi nk.
Why don t we ask Sant a Cl aus? I ggy sounded bi t t er . Or t he East er Bunny?
I say we j ust bi t e em, Tot al sai d. They open t he door s, we r e on em, snar l i ng
and f angs and ever yt hi ng. Or I coul d r ush t hei r l egs, t r i p em, and t hen you guys
at t ack t hem.
We don t have f angs, Gazzy expl ai ned pat i ent l y, soundi ng t i r ed and wi t hout hope.
No, but we have t eet h, sai d Nudge. We shoul d have been chewi ng of f t he t ape al l
t hi s t i me! Come on! Tot al wi l l chew on mi ne, I l l t r y t o get Gazzy s of f , and Gazzy,
you wor k on I ggy s. Then we l l ki ck some Fl yboy but t !
Wi t h a new bl oomof hope, Nudge scoot ed acr oss t he di r t y met al f l oor so t hat Tot al
coul d r each her hands, i n back of her .
She d j ust f el t hi s f i r st whi sker y appr oach when t he met al door s sl ammed open
agai n, and f i ve Fl yboys cl i mbed i n. They wal ked t o t he f r ont of t he t r uck, not
car i ng i f t hey ki cked t he bi r d ki ds on t he way.
Nudge l ay ver y st i l l , her head r est i ng on t he f l oor . So much f or her pl an.

28
I s he your boyf r i end? El l a had been i ncr edi bl y happy t o see me. We d hugged f or
a l ong t i me, unt i l I hear d Fang si gh i mpat i ent l y. Now we wer e i n her r oom, wher e she
was changi ng out of her soccer uni f or mi nt o r egul ar cl ot hes, whi l e Fang made l ame,
st i l t ed conver sat i on wi t h Dr . Mar t i nez i n t he l i vi ng r oom.
Regul ar peopl e s backs l ook so naked and. . . f l at wi t hout wi ngs. J ust an
Page 19
obser vat i on.
Fang? No! No, no, I sai d qui ckl y. No. I mean, we gr ew up t oget her , so we r e
mor e l i ke. . . uh, si bl i ngs.
He s ador abl e, she sai d mat t er - of - f act l y, pul l i ng on some j eans and a hoodi e.
I was st i l l pr ocessi ng t hi s and my r eact i on t o i t when she l ooked over at me and
smi l ed. But not as cut e as Shaw Aker s, i n my cl ass.
I gr i nned back. El l a f l opped next t o me on t he bed, and i t was so nor mal , so l i ke
si st er s or best f r i ends or somet hi ng, t hat my t hr oat got t i ght .
Shaw i s ser i ousl y, amazi ngl y ador abl e, El l a went on, her f ace sof t eni ng. He
asked me t o t he Chr i st mas dance, but someone el se had al r eady asked me, so I have t o
go wi t h t he f i r st one. But t her e s al ways Spr i ng Fl i ng. . . . She wi ggl ed her
eyebr ows, and I l aughed.
Good l uck wi t h t hat . I had no Spr i ng Fl i ng i n my dat e book. Most l y I had ki ck
Er aser but t , dest r oy evi l School , save wor l d, st uf f l i ke t hat .
A gent l e t ap on t he door made us l ook up.
Ready? El l a s momasked, openi ng t he door .
Ready as I l l ever be, I sai d.

29
Dr . Mar t i nez dr ove us t o her cl i ni c. I t was af t er hour s, so she sai d we woul dn t
be di st ur bed. She par ked i n t he back, sor t of behi nd t he Dumpst er , so her car
woul dn t be not i ced r i ght away.
I nsi de t he bui l di ng, she di dn t t ur n on t he l i ght s, and she l ocked t he door behi nd
us.
We don t boar d ani mal s, so t her e s no one on ni ght dut y her e, she expl ai ned,
l eadi ng us t o t he OR.
The oper at i ng t abl e was meant f or ani mal s up t o t he si ze of , say, a l ar ge Sai nt
Ber nar d, and my l egs dangl ed of f i t . The met al was col d under my back, and t he
l i ght s wer e way t oo br i ght . I cl osed my eyes.
Max, I f or bi d you t o t ake out t he chi p. The Voi ce sounded unchar act er i st i cal l y
st er n.
Yeah, f or bi d me, I t hought t i r edl y. That s al ways wor ked so wel l f or ever yone
el se.
Fi r st , I mgoi ng t o gi ve you some Val i um, j ust t o hel p you r el ax, sai d Dr .
Mar t i nez, st ar t i ng an I V i n my nonchi p ar m. I mal so goi ng t o t ake a chest X- r ay
and do some bl ood wor k, j ust t o make sur e you r e not si ck or anyt hi ng.
Because of my l ess- t han- soci al l y- accept ed bi zar r o chi l dhood at t he hands of evi l
sci ent i st s, I have an over whel mi ng r eact i on t o sci ence l ab- t ype smel l s, l i ke
al cohol , pl ast i c t ubi ng, f l oor cl eaner , et c. When Dr . Mar t i nez put t he I V i n, I had
t o gr i p t he si des of t he t abl e t o keep mysel f f r oml eapi ng up and r aci ng out of
t her e, pr ef er abl y punchi ng a coupl e peopl e f i r st .
My hear t was poundi ng, my br eat h comi ng shal l ower , and I coul d f eel t he whi t e
l i ght ni ng of adr enal i ne st ar t i ng t o seep i nt o my vei ns.
You know what ? Tur ns out Val i umj ust shut s t hat st uf f r i ght down!
Thi s i s gr eat , I sai d wi t h cheer f ul gr oggi ness. I f eel so. . . cal m.
You r e okay, Max, sai d El l a, pat t i ng my shoul der .
You st i l l want t o do t hi s? Fang asked. Bar k once f or yes.
I st uck my t ongue out at hi m. Wi t h any l uck at al l , what ever gr ot esque t hi ng woul d
pr obabl y r epl ace t he Er aser s woul dn t be abl e t o t r ack us once t he chi p was out . And
maybe t he Voi ce woul d be gone f or ever t oo. I wasn t posi t i ve t he chi p was connect ed
t o t he Voi ce, but i t seemed l i kel y. Even t hough t he Voi ce had been ki nd of hel pf ul
somet i mes, I st i l l want ed ever yone out of my head except me.
Whi ch i s such a pat het i c sent ence, one t hat pr obabl y not a l ot of peopl e need t o
say.
Then Dr . Mar t i nez st r et ched out my chi pped ar mand f ast ened i t t o t he t abl e.

30
I nst i nct i vel y I st ar t ed t o pani c when Dr . Mar t i nez st r apped my ar mdown, and t hen
t he pani c j ust mel t ed away, l a l a l a.
Someone t ook my ot her hand. Fang. I f el t hi s cal l uses, hi s bones, hi s st r engt h.
I mso gl ad you r e her e, I sl ur r ed, smi l i ng dopi l y up at hi m. I t ook i n hi s
st ar t l ed, wor r i ed expr essi on but di smi ssed i t . I know ever yt hi ng s f i ne i f you r e
her e.
Page 20
I t hought I saw hi s cheeks f l ush, but I wasn t t oo sur e of anyt hi ng anymor e. I
f el t a coupl e of needl e pr i cks i n my ar m, and sai d mi l dl y, Hey.
That s j ust a l ocal anest het i c, expl ai ned Dr . Mar t i nez. I l l gi ve i t a mi nut e
t o t ake ef f ect .
Oh, l ook, t he l i ght s ar e so pr et t y, I sai d dr eami l y, havi ng j ust not i ced t hem.
I smi l ed at t he way t he l i ght s wer e danci ng over head, pi nk and yel l ow and bl ue. I
f el t some pr essur e on my ar mand t hought , I shoul d l ook over and see what s goi ng
on, but t hen t he t hought was gone, sl i di ng away l i ke J el l - O of f a hot car hood.
Fang?
Yeah. I mher e.
I st r uggl ed t o f ocus on hi m. I mso gl ad you r e her e.
Yeah, I got t hat .
I don t know what I d do wi t hout you. I peer ed up at hi m, t r yi ng t o see past t he
t oo- br i ght l i ght s.
You d be f i ne, he mut t er ed.
No, I sai d, suddenl y st r uck by how unf i ne I woul d be. I woul d be t ot al l y
unf i ne. Tot al l y. I t seemed ver y ur gent t hat he under st and t hi s.
Agai n I f el t some t uggi ng on my ar m, and I r eal l y wonder ed what t hat was about .
Was El l a s momgoi ng t o st ar t t hi s pr ocedur e any t i me soon?
I t s okay. J ust r el ax. He sounded st i f f and ner vous. J ust . . . r el ax. Don t t r y t o
t al k.
I don t want my chi p anymor e, I expl ai ned gr oggi l y, t hen f r owned. Act ual l y, I
never want ed t hat chi p.
Okay, sai d Fang. We r e t aki ng i t out .
I j ust want you t o hol d my hand.
I amhol di ng your hand.
Oh. I knew t hat . I dr i f t ed of f f or a f ew mi nut es, bar el y awar e of anyt hi ng, but
f eel i ng Fang s hand st i l l i n mi ne.
Do you have a La- Z- Boy somewher e? I r oused mysel f t o ask, ever y wor d an ef f or t .
Um, no, sai d El l a s voi ce, somewher e behi nd my head.
I t hi nk I woul d l i ke a La- Z- Boy, I mused, l et t i ng my eyes dr i f t shut agai n.
Fang, don t go anywher e.
I won t . I mher e.
Okay. I need you her e. Don t l eave me.
I won t .
Fang, Fang, Fang, I mur mur ed, over whel med wi t h emot i on. I l ove you. I l ove you
sooo much. I t r i ed t o hol d out my ar ms t o show how much, but I coul dn t move t hem.
Oh, j eez, Fang sai d, soundi ng st r angl ed.
Okay, we r e done, sai d Dr . Mar t i nez f i nal l y. The chi p i s out . I mgoi ng t o
unf ast en your ar m, Max, and t hen I want you t o wi ggl e your f i nger s.
Okay. I wi ggl ed t he f i nger s t hat Fang was st i l l hol di ng.
The ot her ones, he sai d.
Okay. I wi ggl ed t hose f i nger s.
Go ahead and move t hem, Max, sai d Dr . Mar t i nez.
I ammovi ng t hem, I sai d, movi ng t hemmor e.
Oh, sai d Dr . Mar t i nez. Oh, no.

31
So t her e you have i t , f ol ks. The most humi l i at i ng admi ssi on I coul d possi bl y even
concei ve of , pl us t he l oss of my l ef t hand, al l i n one day. I mean, t he hand was
st i l l t her e, but i t was dangl i ng l i mpl y. Mor e decor at i ve t han anyt hi ng el se at t hi s
poi nt .
J ust l i ke my pr i de.
Ever y t i me t he hazy memor y of my sayi ng goof i l y, I l ove you sooo much popped
i nt o my head, I shudder ed al l over agai n. That one exper i ence guar ant eed t hat I wi l l
never , ever get hooked on Val i umor anyt hi ng l i ke i t .
Dr . Mar t i nez was i ncr edi bl y upset about my hand. She was i n t ear s af t er war d and
kept apol ogi zi ng.
Hey, I made you do i t , I t ol d her .
You di dn t make me. I shoul dn t have t r i ed i t . She l ooked cr ushed.
No mat t er what , I mgl ad i t s gone, I sai d. I mr eal l y gl ad i t s gone.
The next day I was Voi ce- f r ee and st ar t i ng t o l ear n t o do ever yt hi ng wi t h onl y my
r i ght hand. I t was a t ot al pai n i n t he but t , but I was get t i ng bet t er . Agai n and
Page 21
agai n I t r i ed t o move t he f i nger s on my l ef t hand, and agai n and agai n I got not a
t wi t ch or a t i ngl e. My ar mached, t hough.
Agai n and agai n I f el t Fang s ni ght sky eyes on me, t o t he poi nt wher e I was about
t o cl i mb t he wal l . When Dr . Mar t i nez and El l a wer e out si de f or a moment , I cor ner ed
hi m.
What I sai d yest er day di dn t mean anyt hi ng! I hi ssed. I l ove ever yone i n t he
f l ock! Pl us, i t was t he Val i umt al ki ng!
An unbear abl e smug l ook came over hi s usual l y i mpassi ve f ace. Uh- huh. You j ust
keep t el l i ng your sel f t hat . You l ooove me.
I t ook a swi ng at hi m, but he j umped back ni mbl y, and al l I di d was j ar my l ef t
ar m, maki ng i t hur t .
He l aughed at me, t hen poi nt ed at t he woods out si de t he wi ndow. Pi ck a t r ee. I l l
go car ve our i ni t i al s i n i t .
Bar el y suppr essi ng a shr i ek of r age, I f l ung mysel f down t he hal l and i nt o t he
bat hr oom, sl ammi ng and l ocki ng t he door behi nd me.
My super acut e r apt or hear i ng coul dn t hel p r egi st er i ng hi s chuckl es out si de.
Hol di ng my head i n my r i ght hand, I mut t er ed, God hel p me.
Too l at e f or t hat , Max, sai d t he Voi ce. Onl y you can hel p your sel f now.
Oh, no.
The Voi ce was not connect ed t o t he chi p. I t was st i l l i nsi de my head.
Whi ch made t oday s t ot al :
1) Usel ess l ef t hand
2) Fang bel i evi ng some mushy emot i on I di dn t even mean
3) Voi ce st i l l wi t h us
Gi ven t hese r evol t i ng devel opment s, t her e was onl y one t hi ng t o do. Leavi ng my
bandaged l ef t ar mout si de t he shower cur t ai n, I sat i n t he t ub wi t h t he wat er
pour i ng down on my head and cr i ed.

32
I don t t hi nk you shoul d l eave unt i l your ar mheal s, sai d Dr . Mar t i nez, l ooki ng
wor r i ed. I msayi ng t hat as a doct or , Max.
We ve been gone t oo l ong as i t i s, I sai d. Besi des, wi t h our zi ppy r ecombi nant
heal i ng power s, I shoul d be f i ne, i n, oh, about t went y mi nut es.
She knew I was exagger at i ng, but she al so knew me wel l enough t o know t hat l i t t l e
t hi ngs l i ke heal i ng up and common sense don t usual l y af f ect my deci si ons.
I don t want you t o go, sai d El l a mi ser abl y. Ei t her of you.
I know, I sai d. But we have t o. We ve got t o get back t o our , uh, si t uat i on.
Max, i s t her e anyt hi ng we can do t o hel p? El l a s mom s eyes wer e f i l l ed wi t h a
deep emot i on t hat unner ved me.
Savi ng t he wor l d di dn t f eel l i ke somet hi ng I coul d del egat e.
No, I don t t hi nk so, I sai d pol i t el y.
Behi nd me, Fang st ood wai t i ng, hat i ng bei ng i n t he open i n t hei r yar d. He d been
wei r d al l mor ni ng, and I wasn t sur e i f i t was about my wonky hand, what I d sai d by
acci dent , or what . Anyway, I knew he was i t chi ng t o be of f , and par t of me was t oo.
Par t of me wasn t .
Ther e wer e hugs, of cour se. These peopl e coul dn t spi t wi t hout havi ng t o hug
someone. I t f el t unbal anced, bei ng abl e t o hug back wi t h onl y my r i ght ar m- t hat i s,
my l ef t ar mcoul d move up, but i t was pr et t y dead bel ow t he el bow. Awkwar d.
I saw Dr . Mar t i nez st ep t owar d Fang, her ar ms out , but a gl ance at hi s f ace made
her st op, t hen smi l e war ml y and hol d her hand out f or shaki ng. He t ook i t , t o my
r el i ef .
I mso gl ad I met you, she sai d t o hi m, l ooki ng as i f she wer e vi si bl y
r est r ai ni ng her sel f f r omhuggi ng hi m. He st ood st i f f l y, not sayi ng anyt hi ng.
Take car e of Max.
He nodded, and hi s mout h qui r ked on one si de. He knew t he i dea t hat anyone needed
t o t ake car e of me woul d get my kni cker s i n a t wi st . I scowl ed. We woul d di scuss
t hi s, f or sur e.
Lat er , he sai d t o El l a and Dr . Mar t i nez i n t hat gushy, hyper emot i onal ,
over dr amat i c way he had.
Then he r an acr oss t he yar d, l eapi ng i nt o t he ai r and unf ur l i ng hi s wi ngs r i ght
bef or e he hi t t he woods. I hear d t hemgasp at t he si ght of hi s f our t een- f oot wi ngs
Page 22
l of t i ng hi mef f or t l essl y i nt o t he sky, so dar k t hey l ooked al most pur pl e i n t he
sunl i ght .
I smi l ed one l ast t i me at El l a and her mot her , f eel i ng r eal l y sad, but not as sad
as I had l ast t i me, despi t e my r ui ned ar m. Now I f el t l i ke, I f ound t hemagai n; I
can al ways come back.
And I r eal l y t hought I mi ght , when al l of t hi s was over . I f i t was ever over .

33
Fl yi ng agai n f el t as wonder f ul and l i f e- gi vi ng as f l yi ng agai n al ways di d. Fang
and I di dn t speak f or maybe f or t y mi nut es, st r eaki ng back t owar d wher e we d l ef t
t he f l ock. I was f i l l ed wi t h appr ehensi on and st ar t ed t o t hi nk t hr ough t he
al most - cer t ai nl y- i mpossi bl e i dea of us al l get t i ng cel l phones so we coul d keep i n
t ouch dur i ng t i mes l i ke t hi s.
Fi nal l y i t coul dn t be avoi ded any l onger .
So what s wi t h you? I asked br usquel y.
As i f he d been wai t i ng, Fang r ose and hel d hi s speed so he was al most r i ght on
t op of me. Whi l e f l yi ng, i t was t he easi est way t o hand somet hi ng t o someone el se.
I hel d up my r i ght hand, and he r eached down, pr essi ng a smal l whi t e squar e of
paper i nt o my hand.
I l ooked at i t as he shi f t ed sl i ght l y so we wer e si de- by- si de agai n.
I t was a phot o, and I r ecogni zed i t .
I t was t he pi ct ur e of t he baby Gasman t hat Fang and I had f ound i n a deser t ed
cr ack house, l i ke, a mi l l i on year s ago. I d l ef t i t i n my pack, hi dden back wi t h t he
ot her s i n t he canyon. Why d you br i ng t hi s? I asked Fang.
I di dn t . Hi s voi ce was cal mas al ways, but I saw r i gi d t ensi on i n hi s f r ame. I
f ound i t .
What ? That di dn t make sense. Found i t wher e?
Bet ween t wo books i n Dr . Mar t i nez s home of f i ce, he sai d, l ooki ng at me,
r egi st er i ng my shock. Bet ween a book about r ecombi nant - DNA t heor y. . . and one on
bi r ds.

34
Wel l . I f sudden knowl edge had a physi cal f or ce, my head woul d have expl oded r i ght
t her e, and chunks of my br ai n woul d have spl at t er ed some unsuspect i ng schmuck i n a
gr ocer y st or e par ki ng l ot down bel ow.
Let s j ust say I was st unned, and i t t akes a f ai r amount t o st un me, I pr omi se
you.
My j aw dr opped open as I st ar ed at Fang s gr i mf ace, and onl y t he cer t ai nt y t hat I
woul d st ar t eat i ng bugs any second made me shut i t agai n.
I mnot t he l eader f or not hi ng. I mean, I mt he ol dest , but I mt he l eader because
I msmar t , st r ong, f ast , and det er mi ned. I mwi l l i ng t o be t he l eader . I mt he
deci si on maker . And now, wi t h t ypi cal l eader l y i nci si veness, I put t wo and si x
t oget her and came up wi t h one si ngl e quest i on t hat woul d get r i ght t o t he cr uci al
hear t of t he mat t er .
Whaaat ?
I f ound t he pi ct ur e i n Dr . Mar t i nez s home of f i ce, Fang began agai n, but I waved
at hi mt o be qui et .
You sear ched her of f i ce? I had never t hought t o do t hat . Not t he f i r st t i me, not
t hi s t i me.
Hi s f ace was i mpassi ve. I needed a paper cl i p.
She had books on combi ni ng DNA?
And bi r ds.
She s a vet .
Fi ne, she s a vet . But avi an anat omy, pl us r ecombi nant - DNA t heor y, pl us t he
pi ct ur e of t he Gasman. . .
Oh, God, I can t t hi nk, I mut t er ed, put t i ng my hand t o my head.
Ever yt hi ng s par t of t he bi g pi ct ur e, Max, t he Voi ce hel pf ul l y suppl i ed. Al l you
have t o do i s put t he pi eces t oget her .
For t une cooki e cr ap l i ke t hat di dn t do a t hi ng f or me. I mean, I coul d have
got t en t hat anywher e, wi t hout havi ng a f r eaki ng Voi ce i n my head.
Oh, r eal l y? I snar l ed. I j ust have t o put t he pi eces t oget her ? Excel l ent !
Thanks f or t he gr eat t i p! Wi sh you d t ol d me ear l i er , you-
I r eal i zed I was t al ki ng out l oud and shut up.
Page 23
I di dn t know what t o t hi nk. And Fang was t he onl y one I coul d admi t t hat t o. Any
of t he ot her ki ds, and I woul d ve made somet hi ng up t o cover t he t r ut h.
I shook my head. I don t know what t he deal i s. I know she s hel ped me, not once
but t wi ce.
Fang di dn t say anyt hi ng, i n t hat annoyi ng way of hi s.
We wer e pr act i cal l y t o t he canyon wher e we d l ef t t he f l ock. I sear ched t he ar ea
but di dn t see any t el l t al e si gn of smoke f r omt hei r f i r e. Whi ch meant t hey wer e
bei ng smar t f or once, l yi ng l ow, t hey wer e. . .
Fang and I dr opped down i nt o t he canyon, but we al r eady knew. We knew f r omt wo
hundr ed f eet up. I di dn t need t o t ouch t he bur ned- out ashes or l ook ar ound f or
cl ues, t hough I di d, of cour se.
I t was al l hor r i bl y, si ckeni ngl y cl ear : The f l ock hadn t been her e i n a coupl e of
days. The scr aped canyon f l oor showed t hey d been t aken by f or ce.
Whi l e I d been happi l y st uf f i ng my f ace wi t h homemade chocol at e- chi p cooki es, my
f r i ends had been get t i ng capt ur ed, wi t h al l t hat t hat i mpl i ed.
I dr opped my head i nt o my hand, hol di ng up my l ef t ar musel essl y.
Cr ap.
Massi ve under st at ement .

35
When Nudge f i nal l y opened her eyes, t he t r uck was movi ng. She coul dn t r emember
t he l ast sever al hour s, so she f i gur ed she d been asl eep.
Squi r mi ng ar ound, she saw Gazzy and I ggy l yi ng wi t h t hei r eyes cl osed, maybe
sl eepi ng. Even Tot al seemed wor n out , l yi ng on hi s si de, not even pant i ng.
Angel was gone. Max and Fang had no i dea wher e t hey wer e or what had happened.
I ggy seemed t o have gi ven up.
The Gasman hadn t sai d i t , but Nudge knew he was mor e scar ed t han he d admi t .
Dr i ed t ear t r acks st r eaked hi s di r t y cheeks, maki ng hi ml ook younger and mor e
hel pl ess t han she d ever seen hi m.
By movi ng sl i ght l y, Nudge coul d see f i ve Fl yboys si t t i ng near t he f r ont of t he
t r uck, t hei r backs agai nst t he t r uck wal l s. Fr omher e t hey l ooked al most l i ke
r egul ar Er aser s, but t her e was somet hi ng sl i ght l y di f f er ent about t hem. Basi cal l y,
t hey wer e met al l i c r obot s wi t h a t hi n Er aser ski n over t hei r f r ames. Thei r f ur
wasn t as t hi ck. And t hey never mor phed i nt o l ooki ng semi human- t hey st ayed i n wol f
f or mal l t he t i me.
Nudge cl osed her eyes agai n, wear y and achi ng al l over , t oo t i r ed t o t hi nk. They
needed a pl an. Ever yt hi ng j ust seemed so over whel mi ng and scar y.
The t r uck shudder ed t o a hal t , t he scr eech of t he br akes hur t i ng Nudge s ear s.
Then t he r i de gr ew ver y choppy, as i f t hey had veer ed of f t he r oad and wer e r ol l i ng
on di r t now. Ow, ow, ow, Nudge t hought , bi t i ng her l i p t o keep f r omcr yi ng out .
Gazzy and I ggy gr oggi l y opened t hei r eyes, and Tot al st i r r ed.
I hope t hi s i s a pot t y br eak, he mut t er ed.
Ther e was shout i ng out si de. The t hr ee bi r d ki ds st r uggl ed t o si t up, t hei r hands
st i l l duct - t aped behi nd t hem.
The t wo back door s of t he t r uck wer e t hr own open wi t h heavy, br ai n- r at t l i ng bangs.
Sunl i ght f l oodi ng i n made t hembl i nk and t ur n t hei r heads away. The Fl yboys i n t he
t r uck wi t h t hemst r ode t o t he openi ng.
Ther e was mor e shout i ng, r ai sed voi ces f r omt he f r ont of t he t r uck. Nudge saw
not hi ng out si de except a l ong, empt y di r t r oad wi t h l ow br ush l i ni ng i t . No
bui l di ngs, no el ect r i ci t y wi r es. No one ar ound t o hel p t hem. Nowher e t o r un t o.
Thei r wi ngs had been bound f l at agai nst t hei r backs.
What s happeni ng? I ggy s whi sper was bar el y audi bl e, but a Fl yboy ki cked hi m.
Shut up! i t gr owl ed, soundi ng l i ke a r ecor ded phone message.
Nudge hear d many f eet wal ki ng qui ckl y t owar d t he back of t he t r uck. She br aced f or
what ever was goi ng t o happen next .
Whi ch no one ever coul d have pr edi ct ed i n a mi l l i on year s.
An over whel mi ng cl ump of Fl yboys sur r ounded t he back of t he t r uck, f ur r y f aces
f r ozen i nt o i dent i cal sneer s. Nudge swal l owed, pr et endi ng t o be br aver t han she was.
The cr owd shi f t ed r est l essl y, and Nudge saw t hat i t was par t i ng t o l et someone
t hr ough. Max? Her hear t j umped at t he possi bi l i t y. Even Max t r ussed up, i n bad
shape, t hr own i nt o t he t r uck wi t h t hem, woul d be f abul ous, such a wel come-
I t was J eb!
Nudge f el t a t wi nge ar ound her hear t as she l ooked at t he f ace t hat had f or med so
Page 24
much of her chi l dhood. J eb had r escued t hem. Then he d di ed- or t hey d t hought he was
dead. Then he had shown up agai n, cl ear l y one of Them. Nudge knew t hat Max hat ed hi m
now. So Nudge hat ed hi mt oo.
Her eyes nar r owed.
Fr ombehi nd J eb an Er aser , a r eal Er aser , st epped out t o st and next t o hi m. I t was
Ar i ! Ar i , who had al so been dead and t hen not r eal l y. Ar i was t he onl y r eal Er aser
t hey d seen i n days and days.
Nudge put a bor ed expr essi on on her f ace l i ke she d seen Max and Fang do a
t housand t i mes. Yeah, yeah, J eb and Ar i , she t hought . Show me somet hi ng new.
Someone el se st epped out f r ombehi nd Ar i .
Nudge s eyes wi dened, and her br eat h sei zed i n her t hr oat . Her mout h opened, but
no sound came out .
I nst ead her l i ps si l ent l y f or med one wor d: Angel .
Nudge sear ched Angel s bl ue eyes, but t hey seemed l i ke a t ot al st r anger s. Nudge
had never seen her l i ke t hi s.
Angel ! Gazzy s f ace l ooked happy but at t he same t i me concer ned.
Angel ? Nudge f i nal l y spoke, f ear t r i ckl i ng l i ke i ce wat er down her neck.
Ti me t o di e, Angel sai d i n her sweet l i t t l e- gi r l voi ce.

36
Thi s i s t oo easy, Fang mut t er ed, f r owni ng at t he gr ound t wo t housand f eet bel ow
us.
I was t hi nki ng t he same t hi ng. They di d ever yt hi ng except l eave gi gundo yel l ow
ar r ows sayi ng Thi s way, f ol ks!
We d f l own i n a mammot h ci r cl e and had pi cked up t i r e t r acks wi t hi n an hour . I t
l ooked l i ke a bi g t r uck, l ot s of wheel s, and i t had l ef t deser t sand on t he hi ghway
f or al most hal f a mi l e. We coul dn t t hi nk of any ot her r eason a t r uck woul d have
been hi dden of f - r oad and t hen dr i ven out . Unl ess i t bel onged t o, l i ke, cact us
poacher s. Sand col l ect or s. A movi e cr ew.
Thi s bei ng t he mi ddl e of Fr eaki ng Nowher e, USA, t her e was onl y t he one r oad f or
mi l es and mi l es. So, one r oad wi t h cl ear t i r e mar ks headed i n one di r ect i on. Gee,
obvi ous much?
And we r e f al l i ng f or t hi s because of our sudden, unexpect ed r egr essi on i nt o
unbel i evabl e st upi di t y? I sai d.
Fang nodded gr i ml y. We r e f al l i ng f or i t because we ve got no ot her choi ce.
Oh, yeah. That .
Thr ee hour s of f ast f l i ght l at er , we saw t hem: an ei ght een- wheel ed semi par ked of f
t he r oad i n per haps t he most desol at e, unpopul at ed spot i n al l of Ar i zona. You coul d
not cal l 911 f r omher e. You coul d not r un f or hel p. You coul d send of f a f l ar e ever y
hal f hour f or days and not be seen by anyone.
Looks l i ke t he pl ace, I sai d, si ghi ng. And l ook at t hat cr owd down t her e. I
t hought al l t he Er aser s wer e ext er mi nat ed.
So t he Voi ce l i ed t o you?
No, I sai d sl owl y, as we coast ed on a cur r ent . I t s never act ual l y l i ed t o me.
So i f t hose t hi ngs ar en t Er aser s, t hen t hey r e t he Er aser s r epl acement s. Oh, j oy.
Yep. Fang shook hi s head, so not i nt o t hi s. Fi ve bucks says t hey r e wor se t han
t he or i gi nal s. And t hey pr obabl y have guns.
No doubt .
And of cour se t hey r e expect i ng us.
We di d ever yt hi ng but RSVP.
I hat e t hi s. Fang del i ber at el y l ooked ever ywher e but at my usel ess l ef t hand.
That woul d be because you ve st i l l got a t enuous gr asp of sani t y.
I ci r cl ed wi de, t r yi ng t o gear mysel f up f or an i mpossi bl e f i ght : We woul d be
out number ed a coupl e hundr ed t o t wo, by somet hi ng wor se t han Er aser s. I had no i dea
i f t he r est of t he f l ock woul d be abl e t o hel p.
I t was pr et t y much a sui ci de mi ssi on.
Agai n.
Ther e i s one br i ght si de t o t hi s, sai d Fang.
Yeah? What s t hat ? The new and i mpr oved Er aser s woul d mut i l at e us bef or e t hey
ki l l ed us?
He gr i nned at me so unexpect edl y I f or got t o f l ap f or a second and dr opped sever al
f eet . You l ooove me, he cr ooned smugl y. Hol di ng hi s ar ms out wi de, he added, You
l ove me t hi s much.
Page 25
My shr i ek of appal l ed r age coul d pr obabl y be hear d i n Cal i f or ni a, or maybe Hawai i .
Cer t ai nl y by t he unknown ar my down bel ow. I di dn t car e. I f ol ded my wi ngs agai nst
my si des and ai med downwar d t o get away f r omFang as f ast as possi bl e. Now t hat he
had f i l l ed me wi t h a bl i nd, t eemi ng bl oodl ust , I was r eady t o t ake out a coupl e
t housand Er aser r epl acement s, no mat t er what t hey wer e.
Whi ch, I admi t t ed t o mysel f , may have been hi s poi nt .
Amazi ngl y, we wer e abl e t o t hump t o qui ck- r unni ng l andi ngs on t he r oof of t he semi
wi t hout get t i ng punched f ul l of l i t t l e unaer odynami c bul l et hol es.
Heads swi vel ed t o l ook at us, Er aser y heads, but t her e was somet hi ng di f f er ent
about t hem. I coul dn t qui t e put my f i nger on what .
I ggy? I yel l ed.
Max! I hear d hi s st r angl ed cr y f r omt he r ear of t he t r uck and t r ot t ed over .
You guys ok- , I began, t hen I saw J eb, Ar i , and Angel st andi ng on t he gr ound.
Angel ! I cr i ed. Ar e you okay? I mgonna t ake t hese guys apa-
The l ook i n Angel s pol ar - i ce eyes st opped me.
I t ol d you I shoul d be t he l eader , Max, she sai d wi t h a chi l l i ng f l at ness. Now
i t s your t i me t o di e. The l ast l i f e- f or ms f r omt he l abs ar e bei ng ext er mi nat ed, and
you wi l l be t oo. She t ur ned t o J eb. Ri ght ?
J eb nodded sol emnl y, and t hen my wor l d went bl ank i n t he wi nk of an eye.

Par t 2
School s I n- For ever

37
My head was f eel i ng as i f had been used as a bowl i ng bal l , agai nst sol i d mar bl e
pi ns.
My hear t pounded, my br eat hs wer e r agged and shal l ow, and ever y muscl e I had
ached. I di dn t know what was goi ng on, but i t was bad.
I opened my eyes.
The wor d bad was so gr ossl y i nadequat e t o descr i be t he si t uat i on t hat i t was l i ke
i t was f r omanot her l anguage- a l anguage of nai ve i di ot s.
I was st r apped t o a met al hospi t al bed, wr i st s and ankl es bound wi t h t hi ck Vel cr o.
And I wasn t al one.
Wi t h ef f or t , I r ai sed my head, f i ght i ng of f t he swi f t wave of nausea t hat made me
gag and swal l ow convul si vel y.
To my l ef t , al so st r apped t o a met al bed, t he Gasman br eat hed unevenl y, t wi t chi ng
i n hi s sl eep.
Next t o hi m, Nudge was st ar t i ng t o move, moani ng sl i ght l y.
Tur ni ng t o t he r i ght , I saw I ggy. He was l yi ng ver y st i l l , eyes open, st ar i ng up
at a cei l i ng he coul dn t see.
On hi s ot her si de, Fang was st r ai ni ng si l ent l y agai nst hi s Vel cr o r est r ai nt s, hi s
f ace pal e and gr i ml y det er mi ned. When he f el t me l ooki ng at hi m, I saw r el i ef sof t en
hi s gaze f or a spl i t second.
You okay? I mout hed.
He gave a shor t , qui ck nod, t hen i ncl i ned hi s head t o gest ur e t o t he ot her s. I
nodded wear i l y, summi ng up our si t uat i on wi t h a uni ver sal t hi s i s cr ap expr essi on.
He t i l t ed hi s head at a bed acr oss f r omus. Ther e was Tot al , l ooki ng dead except f or
t he occasi onal muscl e j er k, hi s smal l l i mbs bound l i ke our s. He l ooked mangy,
mi ssi ng pat ches of f ur ar ound hi s mout h.
Movi ng my head car ef ul l y so I woul dn t hur l , I exami ned our sur r oundi ngs. We wer e
i n a pl ai n whi t e r oom, whi ch was wi ndowl ess. I t hought I saw a door beyond Nudge s
bed, but I coul dn t be sur e.
I ggy, Fang, me, Gazzy, Nudge, Tot al .
Angel wasn t her e.
I dr ew i n a br eat h, r eadyi ng mysel f t o st r uggl e agai nst t he st r aps, and i t was
t hen t hat i t hi t me: t he smel l . That chemi cal , ant i sept i c smel l of al cohol , f l oor
cl eaner , pl ast i c t ubi ng. The smel l t hat had f i l l ed my nose ever y day f or t he f i r st
t en year s of my l i f e.
Hor r i f i ed, I st ar ed at Fang. He gave me a quest i oni ng l ook.
Wi shi ng desper at el y t hat I was wr ong but wi t h t he t er r i f i ed, si nki ng knowl edge
t hat I wasn t , I mout hed t he answer : The School .
Fang s eyes f l ar ed i n r ecogni t i on, and t hat was t he onl y conf i r mat i on t hat I
needed of t hi s ni ght mar e.
Page 26
We wer e back at t he School .

38
The School - t he awf ul , t er r i f yi ng pl ace we had spent t he past f our year s t r yi ng t o
get over , get away f r om. At t he School , we d been exper i ment ed on, t est ed, r et est ed,
t r ai ned. Because of t hi s pl ace, I woul d never be abl e t o deal wi t h peopl e i n l ong
whi t e coat s and coul d never maj or i n chemi st r y. Because of t hi s pl ace, when I saw a
dog cr at e at a Pet Smar t , I br oke i nt o col d chi l l s.
Max? Gazzy s voi ce sounded dust y and dr y.
Hey, sweet i e, I sai d as qui et l y as I coul d.
Wher e ar e we? What s goi ng on?
I di dn t want t o t el l hi m, but whi l e I was t r yi ng t o come up wi t h a convi nci ng
l i e, t he r eal i t y br oke i nt o hi s br ai n, and he st ar ed at me, appal l ed. I saw hi m
si l ent l y say, The School , and I had no choi ce but t o nod. Hi s head f l opped back
agai nst hi s bed, and I saw t hat hi s once f l uf f y bl ond hai r was a dust y, mat t ed gr ay.
Hey! Tot al sai d wi t h weak i ndi gnat i on. I demand a l awyer . But hi s
char act er i st i c bel l i ger ence was bet r ayed by t he sad pai n i n hi s voi ce.
Do we have a Pl an B? Or C? Even Z? I ggy s voi ce had no l i f e i n i t , no ener gy,
and I got t he i mpr essi on t hat he d gi ven up and was onl y goi ng t hr ough t he mot i ons.
I cl ear ed my t hr oat and swal l owed. Yes, of cour se, I sai d, scr abbl i ng f or any
shr ed of aut hor i t y I coul d must er . Ther e s al ways a pl an. Fi r st , we get out of
t hese st r aps.
I f el t Nudge awaken and l ooked over at her . Her l ar ge br own eyes wer e sol emn, her
mout h st i f f l y t r yi ng not t o qui ver . A pur pl i sh br ui se mot t l ed her cheek, and I saw
mor e on her ar ms. I d al ways t hought of her as a l i t t l e ki d, l i ke Gazzy and Angel ,
but al l of a sudden she seemed t en year s ol der .
Because she knew, and i t showed i n her eyes.
She knew we wer e way, way up a cr eek, and t hat I had no pl an, and t hat we had no
hope.
Whi ch pr et t y much summed i t up.

39
I don t know how much l at er - af t er my ar ms had gone numb but bef or e my ankl es
st ar t ed bur ni ng wi t h pi ns and needl es- t he door opened.
A l i t t l e gr ay- hai r ed woman i n a whi t e coat wal ked i n, car r yi ng a t r ay. Somebody s
evi l gr andma.
A new scent f i l l ed t he ai r .
I t r i ed not t o br eat he i t i n, but i t was unavoi dabl e.
The woman wal ked r i ght up t o me, a smi l e on her pl easant f ace.
Get i t t oget her , Max. That was me t al ki ng. I hadn t hear d t he Voi ce si nce t he
mel ee i n t he deser t .
I t r i ed t o l ook as unconcer ned as a f our t een- year - ol d bi r d ki d st r apped t o a
hospi t al bed i n hel l coul d l ook.
Thi s i s a f i r st , I sai d cool l y. Tor t ur e by chocol at e- chi p cooki e. Was t hi s al l
your i dea?
The woman l ooked di sconcer t ed but t r i ed t o smoot h out her expr essi on.
We t hought you mi ght be hungr y, she sai d. These ar e hot out of t he oven.
She waved t he t r ay a bi t , t o make sur e t he i ncr edi bl e vani l l a- t i nged ar oma of
f r esh- baked cooki es r eached al l of us.
Uh- huh, I sai d. Because al l you mad, evi l sci ent i st s si t ar ound whi ppi ng up
bat ches of Pi l l sbur y s f i nest dur i ng your cof f ee br eaks. I mean, t hi s i s pat het i c.
She l ooked sur pr i sed, and I f el t anger war mi ng my bl ood.
I mean, poi nt s f or t he j ai l cel l , I went on, mot i oni ng at t he r oomwi t h my head.
Kudos f or t he Vel cr o st r aps. Those wer e good st ar t s. But you r e sor t of f al l i ng
down wi t h t he chocol at e- chi p cooki es. Li ke, di d you ski p school t he day t hey t aught
host age t r eat ment ?
Pi nk pat ches f l ar ed on her cheeks, and she st epped back.
Keep your l ousy cooki es, I sai d, nar r owi ng my eyes and l et t i ng a snar l ent er my
voi ce. What ever you si ck f r eaks have pl anned f or us, get on wi t h i t . Cause
ot her wi se you r e j ust wast i ng our t i me.
Now her f ace was st i f f as a mask, and she st ar t ed t o head t o t he door .
Thi s i s a pl an, I t hought . When t hey came i n t o get us f or what ever , t hat woul d be
our chance. And we woul d sei ze i t .
Page 27
She was al most t o t he door when Tot al r ai sed hi s head weakl y. Not so f ast , he
cr oaked. I l l t ake a cooki e. I mnot pr oud.
Fang and I exchanged l ooks, and we r ol l ed our eyes.
The woman l ooked st ar t l ed when Tot al spoke and di dn t know what t o make of hi s
r equest . So she j ust hur r i ed out t he door , and when i t sl ammed behi nd her , I f el t i t
i n my bones.

40
Okay, t he second t hey undo us, make sur e al l heck br eaks l oose, I sai d when
ever yone was awake t he next mor ni ng- at l east I f i gur ed i t was mor ni ng, si nce someone
had t ur ned t he l i ght s on agai n.
The f l ock nodded, but wi t h none of t he angr y t hi r st f or r evenge t hey woul d need t o
escape.
Look, we ve had our backs agai nst t he wal l bef or e, I r emi nded t hem. These guys
al ways scr ew up, al ways make a mi st ake. We ve got t en t he best of t hemever y t i me,
and i t l l be t he same her e.
No r eact i on what soever .
Come on, guys, buck up, I coaxed. Let s see some i nsane r age put appl es i n
t hose cheeks.
Nudge smi l ed f ai nt l y, but t he ot her s seemed l ost i n t hei r own wor l ds, t uggi ng
wi t hout pur pose agai nst t hei r st r aps. Fang sent me an under st andi ng l ook, and I f el t
so f r ust r at ed and st uck t hat I want ed t o howl .
The door opened wi t h a whoosh, and I qui ckl y met ever yone s eyes: Thi s was i t !
I t was J eb. Fol l owed by Anne Wal ker , whomwe hadn t seen si nce we di t ched her
Mar t ha St ewar t f ar mhouse i n Vi r gi ni a. And t he unhol y t r i o was compl et ed by a
gol den- cur l ed l i t t l e gi r l : Angel , who was eat i ng a chocol at e- chi p cooki e and cal ml y
wat chi ng me wi t h her bi g bl ue eyes.
Angel ! Gazzy s voi ce br oke as he under st ood t hat hi s si st er had t ur ned agai nst
us. Angel , how coul d you?
Hel l o, Max, sai d Anne Wal ker , not smi l i ng, not l ooki ng at al l adopt i ve mom- l i ke.
I si ghed heavi l y and st ar ed at t he cei l i ng. No cr yi ng. Not one t ear .
J eb came and st ood r i ght next t o my bed, so cl ose I coul d smel l hi s af t er shave.
I t s scent awoke a sl ew of chi l dhood memor i es, t he year s bet ween t en and t wel ve year s
ol d, when I d f el t t he happi est I ever had.
Hel l o, Max, he sai d qui et l y, sear chi ng my f ace. How do you f eel ?
Whi ch was a t en on t he i mbeci l i c quest i on scal e of one t o t en.
Why, I f eel f i ne, J eb, I sai d br i ght l y. How about you?
Any nausea? Headache?
Yep. And i t s st andi ng her e t al ki ng t o me.
Hi s f i nger s br ushed t he cover s on t op of my l eg, and I t r i ed not t o shudder .
Does i t f eel l i ke you ve been t hr ough a l ot ? he asked.
I st ar ed at hi m. Yeah. Ki nd of . And sadl y, I mst i l l goi ng t hr ough i t .
J eb t ur ned and nodded at Anne Wal ker , and she made a noncommi t t al f ace back at
hi m.
I st ar t ed t o pi ck up t hat somet hi ng was happeni ng her e t hat I di dn t f ul l y
under st and.
Good t hi ng I mused t o t hat f eel i ng.
Max, I ve got somet hi ng t o t el l you t hat I know i s goi ng t o be har d t o bel i eve,
J eb sai d.
You r e not evi l ? You r e not t he wor st l yi ng, cheat i ng, bet r ayi ng j er k I ve ever
met ?
He smi l ed sadl y. The t r ut h i s, Max, t hat not hi ng i s as i t seems.
Uh- huh, I sai d. I s t hat what t he al i ens t ol d you when you qui t wear i ng your
f oi l hat ?
Anne st epped f or war d. J eb made a mot i on l i ke, Let me do i t , but she waved her hand
at hi m. The t r ut h i s, Max, t hat you r e at t he School .
No f r eaki ng duh. And uh, wai t - l et me guess- I msome ki nd of bi r d- ki d hybr i d. And
you capt ur ed me. And, and, I mst r apped t o a hospi t al bed. I bet I even have wi ngs.
AmI r i ght ?
No. You don t under st and, she went on br i skl y. You r e at t he School , Max,
because you never l ef t i t . Ever yt hi ng t hat you t hi nk you ve exper i enced f or t he past
f i ve mont hs has al l been a dr eam.

Page 28
41
I gazed at Anne i n admi r at i on. Gosh, I sai d. Thi s i s a t ot al l y new t ack. I
t r ul y di d not expect t hat . Looki ng ar ound at t he f l ock, I asked, Di d anyone expect
t hat ? They war i l y shook t hei r heads no.
I nodded at Anne. You ve got me. Good one.
I t s t r ue, she sai d. You know you r e an exper i ment al f or mof r ecombi nant DNA.
You know t hat you ve under gone t est i ng dur i ng your l i mi t ed l i f e span. Par t of t he
exper i ment has been t o t est your br ai ns i magi nat i ve capabi l i t i es, as wel l as how
accur at el y we can mani pul at e and even cr eat e your memor i es. Ther e ar e var i ous
exper i ment al dr ugs t hat we ve been aut hor i zed t o use, dr ugs t hat al l ow us t o, i n
essence, gi ve you l i f e memor i es t hat you never t r ul y exper i enced.
Why was she doi ng t hi s? Why go t o so much t r oubl e t o spi n t hi s st or y?
Does i t r eal l y f eel l i ke you l i ved i n Col or ado wi t h J eb? That Angel was
ki dnapped? That you got her back? That you went t o New Yor k? That you ki l l ed Ar i ?
That you l i ved wi t h me i n Vi r gi ni a? Her eyebr ows r ose.
Nar r owi ng my eyes, I st ayed si l ent . I was awar e t hat t he r est of t he f l ock was
payi ng i nt ense at t ent i on t o her ever y wor d.
Max, we gave you t hose memor i es. We moni t or ed your hear t and l ung r at es whi l e you
i magi ned your sel f i n vi ol ent f i ght s. We deci ded on New Yor k, on Fl or i da, on Ar i zona.
Remember Dr . Mar t i nez and El l a? Those const r uct s al l owed us t o t est your
psychol ogi cal and physi cal r esponses t o a war m, nur t ur i ng envi r onment .
My bl ood t ur ned t o i cy sl ush i n my vei ns. They knew about El l a and Dr . Mar t i nez.
How? Had t hey har med t hem? Ki l l ed t hem?
I f ought t o keep my f ace i mpassi ve, t o sl ow my pani cked br eat hi ng. I coul dn t l et
t hemsee t hat t hey wer e get t i ng t o me. Thi s was t he wor st yet .
What was t he memor y of l i vi ng wi t h you supposed t o t est ? I snapped. How I woul d
r eact t o a t wo- f aced cont r ol f r eak who di dn t have a mat er nal bone i n her body?
Two r ed spl ot ches appear ed on Anne s cheeks. Scor e one f or Max.
You st i l l don t bel i eve us, sweet hear t , sai d J eb.
Yeah. Cause I mnot a l unat i c. My voi ce sounded a l i t t l e choked.
J eb gent l y t ook my l ef t wr i st . I nst i nct i vel y I t r i ed t o pul l away f r omhi m, but I
coul dn t . He car ef ul l y t ur ned my hand i nsi de t he Vel cr o st r ap, so t he under si de of
my ar mwas f aci ng up.
Look, Max, he sai d ver y sof t l y. I mt el l i ng you, none of i t has been r eal . I t
was al l a dr eam. You never l ef t t he School .
Remember t hat pucker ed r ed scar on my ar m, f r omwhen I t r i ed t o cut t he chi p out
mysel f ? And t hen t he sur ger y, j ust a f ew days ago? I t had l ef t cl ean, st r ai ght
l i t t l e l i nes, maybe hal f an i nch l ong.
J eb pushed back my sl eeve so I coul d see f ar t her up my ar m.
Ther e wer e no scar s t her e. Not anywher e. My ar mwas smoot h and unmar ked. I t r i ed
t o wi ggl e my f i nger s. They moved. Ther e was not hi ng wr ong wi t h my l ef t hand.
Next t o me, Gazzy sucked i n an ast oni shed br eat h.
I t r i ed not t o br eat he at al l , t r i ed not t o swal l ow, t r i ed t o conceal my shock.
Then somet hi ng occur r ed t o me: We d got t en Tot al i n New Yor k. What about Tot al ? I
demanded t r i umphant l y. Was he a dr eamt oo?
J eb l ooked at me gent l y. Yes, sweet hear t . He was a dr eamt oo. Ther e i s no Tot al
t he t al ki ng dog.
He st epped asi de so we coul d al l see t he bed acr oss f r omus. I t was empt y. The
sheet s wer e smoot h and t aut and whi t e. Tot al had never been t her e, had he?

42
Okay, col or me way f r eaked. Ei t her t hey wer e ser i ousl y messi ng wi t h my mi nd or
t hey wer e. . . even mor e ser i ousl y messi ng wi t h my mi nd.
Ver y qui ckl y, I r an t hr ough possi bl e scenar i os i n my head:
1) They wer e l yi ng ( of cour se) .
a) Lyi ng about us al l havi ng been i n t he School t hi s whol e t i me.
b) Not l yi ng about us al l havi ng been i n t he School t hi s whol e t i me.
2) Thi s, even now, t hi s second, was j ust anot her hal l uci nat i on.
3) Ever yt hi ng up t i l l now had i n f act been dr ug- i nduced ni ght mar es and dr eams ( an
anor exi cal l y t hi n possi bi l i t y) .
4) Whet her t hey wer e l yi ng or no, whet her t hi s was a dr eamor no, I shoul d j ust
br eak l oose, ki ck t hei r sor r y but t s, and be done wi t h i t .
Page 29
I l ay back agai nst my t hi n pi l l ow. I gl anced ar ound at t he f l ock. I had seen t hem
age, seen t hemget t al l er , seen t hei r hai r gr ow. How coul d we have been t i ed up f or
year s? Or had we been t hi s bi g t o begi n wi t h, been cr eat ed t hi s age?
I l ooked at Angel , wi shi ng she woul d send me a r eassur i ng t hought . But not hi ng
came f r omher at al l . Oh, God.
I coul dn t t hi nk anymor e. I was hungr y and i n pai n and t r yi ng t o keep a st eel l i d
on my r i si ng pani c. I cl osed my eyes and t r i ed t o t ake some st eady br eat hs.
How do you get some chow i n t hi s j oi nt ? I f i nal l y asked.
We l l get you somet hi ng r i ght now, J eb sai d.
Li ke, a l ast meal , sai d Angel i n her l i t t l e- gi r l voi ce.
My eyes opened.
I msor r y, Max, sai d Anne Wal ker . But as you ve pr obabl y f i gur ed out , we r e
shut t i ng down al l of our r ecombi nant - DNA exper i ment s. Al l of t he l upi ne- human bl ends
have been r et i r ed, and i t s t i me t o r et i r e you t oo.
Whi ch conf i r med t hat we hadn t seen any r eal Er aser s l at el y. Gazzy had expl ai ned
about t he Fl yboy r obot t hi ngs.
Ret i r e as i n ki l l ? I asked f l at l y. I s t hat how you l i ve wi t h your sel ves? By
usi ng euphemi sms f or deat h and mur der ? I pr et ended t o quot e a newscast : I n t oday s
news, seven peopl e wer e r et i r ed i n a hor r i f i c acci dent on Hi ghway Sevent een. I
changed voi ces. J i mmy, don t r et i r e t hat bi r d wi t h your shot gun. Then, Pl ease,
si r , don t r et i r e me! You can have my wal l et !
I gazed at J eb and Anne, f eel i ng col d r age t ur n my f ace i nt o a mask. How s t hat
wor ki ng out f or you? Abl e t o l ook at your sel ves i n a mi r r or ? Abl e t o sl eep at
ni ght ?
We l l get you somet hi ng t o eat , Anne sai d, and she wal ked qui ckl y out of t he
r oom.
Max- , J eb began.
Don t you even t al k t o me! I spat . Take your l i t t l e t r ai t or wi t h you and get
out of our deat h chamber !
Angel s expr essi on di dn t change as she l ooked f r omme t o J eb. J eb t ook her hand
and si ghed, and t hey bot h l ef t t he r oom. I was shaki ng wi t h emot i on and i n a l ast
sur ge, st r ai ned agai nst t he Vel cr o st r aps wi t h al l my super human st r engt h.
Not hi ng.
I f l opped back agai nst t he bed, t ear s f or mi ng i n my eyes, hat i ng t o have t he f l ock
see me l i ke t hi s. I wi ggl ed my l ef t f i nger s and l ooked f or t he scar s. Not hi ng.
So, t hat went wel l , sai d Fang.

43
Okay, her e s a knot t y l i t t l e quest i on: I f you r e dr eami ng t hat you r e t i ed up by
mad sci ent i st s i n a secr et exper i ment al f aci l i t y, and t hen you f al l asl eep and st ar t
dr eami ng, ar e you r eal l y dr eami ng?
Whi ch one i s t he dr eam?
Whi ch one count s?
How can you t el l ?
I d been t or t ur i ng mysel f wi t h t hese poi nt l ess ci r cul ar conundr ums al l day. Whi ch
r ai ses anot her quest i on: I f I mt or t ur i ng my own br ai n by t r yi ng t o f i gur e st uf f
out , does t hat st i l l count as Themt or t ur i ng me? Because t hey caused t he whol e
si t uat i on t o happen?
At any r at e, at some poi nt I must have f al l en asl eep, because at some poi nt , a
hand shaki ng my shoul der made me st r eak back t o consci ousness.
As al ways, I l eaped i nt o wakef ul ness on f ul l al er t , aut omat i cal l y t r yi ng t o assume
a bat t l e posi t i on. Pr et t y much i mpossi bl e when you r e al l st r apped down.
I see per f ect l y i n t he dar k, and i t t ook onl y a spl i t second t o r egi st er t he
f ami l i ar hul ki ng bad news l eani ng over my bed.
Ar i ! I whi sper ed al most si l ent l y.
Hi , Max, Ar i sai d, and f or t he f i r st t i me i n a l ong t i me, he di dn t l ook t hat
ment al . I mean, ever y t i me I d seen t hi s poor scr ewup i n t he l ast coupl e mont hs,
he d l ooked mor e and mor e as i f he wer e st andi ng on t he edge of i nsani t y wi t h one
f oot on a banana peel .
But now he l ooked- wel l , not anyt hi ng cl ose t o nor mal , but at l east al l t he
f r ot hi ng at t he mout h had st opped.
I wai t ed f or t he f i r st vol l ey of venom.
Page 30
But Ar i had no sni de r emar ks, no t aunt s, no t hr eat s. I nst ead he undi d one of my
ar ms, t hen pul l ed i t down and st r apped i t t o t he ar mof a wheel chai r .
Hmm. Coul d I st i l l f l y i f I was st r apped i nt o a wheel chai r ? I t hought maybe I
coul d. I guessed we woul d f i nd out . I n f act , i f I coul d get some ser i ous speed goi ng
on t hi s t hi ng, i t mi ght l end a si gni f i cant boost t o an exci t i ng t akeof f .
I sat down i n t he chai r , and Ar i st r apped my ankl e t o t he post by t he f r ont wheel .
J ust as I was t ensi ng t o make a br eak, he whi sper ed, They made t hi s chai r wi t h l ead
bar s. I t wei ghs about a hundr ed an sevent y- f i ve pounds.
Cr ap. Even t hough I was r eal l y t al l f or my age, I wei ghed bar el y a hundr ed pounds
because of al l t he avi an modi f i cat i ons t o my bones and st uf f . And t he f act t hat I
coul d al most never get enough f ood. So even t hough I was r eal l y, r eal l y st r ong,
t her e was no way I coul d get a wheel chai r t hat heavy of f t he gr ound.
I l ooked at Ar i wi t h l oat hi ng. What now, bi g guy? You t aki ng me t o your l eader ?
He di dn t r i se t o t he bai t . J ust t hought I d show you ar ound a bi t , t hat s al l ,
Max.

44
Gosh, a gui ded t our , f r omyou? Now I know I mdr eami ng, I qui pped. But t hen a
t hought occur r ed t o me. They t ol d me al l t he Er aser s had been r et i r ed. And i f I
wasn t st r apped down, I d make ai r quot es ar ound r et i r ed.
Ar i l ooked sad. Yeah. I mt he l ast one. They. . . ki l l ed al l t he ot her s.
For some r eason hi s qui et , sad conf i r mat i on of t hat t er r i bl e f act made my bl ood
r un col d. Despi t e what a wal ki ng chi gger bi t e he was, t her e wer e st i l l t i mes when I
coul d al most see t he l i t t l e ki d he d once been. They d al t er ed hi mwhen he was
al r eady t hr ee year s ol d, and hi s r esul t s had been l ess t han st el l ar , poor guy.
Oh, yeah, poor guy who t r i ed t o ki l l me a bunch of t i mes. My eyes nar r owed.
The f l ock i s supposed t o be wi ped out t oo, I sai d. AmI t he f i r st t o go? I s
t hat why you came t o get me?
He shook hi s head. I j ust have per mi ssi on t o t ake you ar ound. I know you guys ar e
supposed t o be r et i r ed, but I don t know when.
I got an i dea. Li st en, Ar i , I sai d, t r yi ng f or a caj ol i ng t one. Si nce snar l i ng
or t hr eat eni ng comes much mor e nat ur al l y t o me, I wasn t sur e how successf ul I was.
Maybe al l of us shoul d bust out of her e t oget her . I don t know what J eb s t ol d you,
but you mi ght be on t he endanger ed l i st t oo.
I was about t o go on, but he i nt er r upt ed me.
I know I am, he sai d, st i l l ver y qui et l y. He pushed t he wheel chai r t hr ough t he
door way, and we wer e i n a l ong hal l l i t by f l uor escent l i ght s and t i l ed wi t h t he
ever - popul ar l i nol eumsquar es. Suddenl y he knel t down and pul l ed hi s shi r t col l ar
away f r omhi s neck.
I r ecoi l ed, but he sai d, Look- I have an expi r at i on dat e. We al l do.
Tot al l y gr ossed out but mor bi dl y cur i ous, I l eaned f or war d. On t he back of Ar i s
neck was a t at t ool i ke l i ne of number s. I t was a dat e. The year was t hi s year , and I
t hought t he mont h was t hi s mont h, but I wasn t sur e. Funny how t i me dr ags when
you r e bei ng hel d capt i ve.
I t hought , Eew. Then, Poor Ar i . Then, Thi s mi ght be anot her t r i ck, anot her way f or
t hemt o yank my chai n.
What do you mean, we al l do? I asked suspi ci ousl y.
Hi s eyes, l ooki ng l i ke t he f ami l i ar ki d- Ar i eyes, met mi ne. Al l of us exper i ment s
have bui l t - i n expi r at i on dat es. When someone s t i me i s pr et t y cl ose, i t shows up on
t he back of t hei r neck. Mi ne showed up a coupl e days ago. So my t i me i s soon.
I l ooked at hi m, appal l ed. So what happens on t hat dat e?
He shr ugged and st ood t o st ar t wheel i ng me f or war d agai n. I l l di e. They woul d
have ext er mi nat ed me wi t h t he ot her s, but my t i me i s r eal l y cl ose anyway. So t hey
cut me a br eak. Because, you know, I mJ eb s son.
Hi s voi ce cr acked as he sai d t hat , and I st ar ed st r ai ght ahead down t he hal l .
Thi s was a new l ow, even f or mad sci ent i st s.

45
I don t know i f you guys ever t our t op- secr et evi l sci ence l abs, l i ke f or school
f i el d t r i ps or somet hi ng. But I got a t our t hat day, and i f I had had t o wr i t e a
school paper about i t , my t i t l e woul d have been, Scar i er and Far Wor se Than You
Coul d Possi bl y I magi ne ( even i f you have a t ot al l y t wi st ed i magi nat i on) .
I mean, we d gr own up her e. ( I t hought . ) Pl us, we d seen some hor r i f i c st uf f at
Page 31
t he I nst i t ut e i n New Yor k. ( I t hought . ) So i t s not l i ke devast at i ng f r eaks of
nat ur e wer e new t o me. But Ar i br ought me down hal l s and up and down i n el evat or s,
and we expl or ed par t s of t he School I d never seen, never knew exi st ed. And l et me
t el l you, t he f l ock and I l ooked l i ke Di sneyl and cast member s compar ed wi t h some of
t he t hi ngs I saw.
They wer en t al l r ecombi nant l i f e- f or ms. Some wer e enhanced but not combi ned
wi t h anot her speci es.
I saw a human baby who wasn t even wal ki ng yet , si t t i ng on t he f l oor , chewi ng on a
pl ast i c f r og whi l e a whi t ecoat wr ot e a l ong, compl i cat ed, uni nt el l i gi bl e
mat hemat i cal pr obl emon a wal l - si zed whi t eboar d.
Anot her whi t ecoat asked, How l ong di d t hi s t ake Feynman t o sol ve?
The f i r st whi t ecoat sai d, Four mont hs.
The baby put down t he f r og and cr awl ed over t o t he whi t eboar d. A whi t ecoat handed
her a mar ker . The baby wr ot e a compl i cat ed, uni nt el l i gi bl e answer on t he whi t eboar d,
somet hi ng wi t h a l ot of Gr eek squi ggl es i n i t .
Then t he baby sat back, l ooked at t he whi t eboar d, and st ar t ed t o gumt he end of
t he mar ker . The ot her whi t ecoat checked t he answer . He l ooked up and nodded.
The f i r st whi t ecoat sai d, Good gi r l , and gave t he baby a cooki e.
I n anot her r oomI saw, l i ke, Pl exi gl as boxes wi t h some sor t of gr ot esque t i ssue
gr owi ng i n t hem. Br ai nl i ke t i ssue f l oat i ng i n di f f er ent - col or ed l i qui ds. Wi r es wer e
comi ng out of t he boxes, connect ed t o a comput er . A whi t ecoat was t ypi ng commands
i nt o t he comput er , and t he br ai n t hi ngs wer e appar ent l y car r yi ng t hemout .
I l ooked at Ar i . Have br ai n, wi l l t r avel .
I t hi nk t hey wer e seei ng i f peopl e woul d st i l l need bodi es or somet hi ng, he
sai d.
I saw a r oomf ul l of t he Er aser r epl acement s, t hose Fl yboy t hi ngs. They wer e hung
i n r ows on met al hooks, l i ke r aggedy coat s i n a cl oset .
Thei r gl owy r ed eyes wer e cl osed, and I saw t hat each one had a wi r e pl ugged i nt o
i t s l eg. Thi n, hai r y Er aser ski n was st r et ched t aut over t hei r met al f r ames, and i n
some pl aces i t had t or n, al l owi ng a j oi nt t o poke t hr ough or a coupl e of gear s and
pul l eys t o show. The whol e ef f ect was pr et t y r epul si ve.
They r e char gi ng, sai d Ar i t onel essl y.
I was st ar t i ng t o f eel over whel med, even mor e over whel med t han usual .
They cal l t hi s one Br ai n on a St i ck, Ar i sai d, gest ur i ng.
I saw a met al l i c spi nal cor d, connect ed t o t wo met al l egs, wal ki ng ar ound. I t
wal ked smoot hl y, f l ui dl y, l i ke a per son. At t he t op of t he spi nal cor d was a
Pl exi gl as box hol di ng- no, not a hamst er - a br ai nl i ke cl ump of t i ssue.
I t wal ked past us, and I hear d sounds comi ng f r omi t , as i f i t wer e t al ki ng t o
i t sel f .
I n t he next r oomwe saw a l i t t l e al l - human ki d, about t wo year s ol d, who had
wei r dl y bul ked- up, devel oped muscl es, l i ke a t i ny bodybui l der . He was bench- pr essi ng
mor e t han t wo hundr ed pounds- wei ght s much bi gger t han he was, pr obabl y ei ght t i mes
hi s body wei ght or mor e.
I coul dn t t ake any mor e of t hi s. So what happens now, Ar i ?
I l l t ake you back, sai d Ar i .
We di dn t speak as he navi gat ed t he hal l s and l evel s of t hi s vi l l age of
ni ght mar es. I wonder ed, i f hi s expi r at i on dat e was r eal , how i t must f eel f or hi mt o
know t hat t he end of hi s l i f e was comi ng soon, mi nut e by mi nut e, second by second.
The f l ock and I had f aced deat h a t housand t i mes, but i t had al ways had an el ement
of maybe we can sl i de out of t hi s.
To have a dat e t at t ooed on your neck- i t was l i ke l ooki ng up and seei ng a t r ai n s
headl i ght s comi ng r i ght at you, and your f eet j ust can t move of f t he t r ack. I was
goi ng t o check t he backs of our necks as soon as I coul d.
Max, I - Ar i st opped, pausi ng out si de t he door t o t he f l ock s war d.
I wai t ed.
I wi sh- , he sai d, hi s voi ce br eaki ng.
I di dn t know what he d been about t o say, but I di dn t need t o know. I pat t ed hi s
hand, per pet ual l y mor phed out i nt o a heavy, hai r y, Er aser - cl awed mi t t .
We al l wi sh, Ar i .

46
The next day t hey l et us l oose.
I s i t t i me f or us t o di e? Nudge asked. She si dl ed cl oser t o me, and I put my ar m
Page 32
ar ound her .
I don t know, sweet i e, I t ol d her . But i f i t i s, I mt aki ng a bunch of emwi t h
me.
Me t oo, sai d Gazzy br avel y. I gat her ed t he Gasman t o my ot her si de.
Fang l eaned agai nst a wal l , hi s eyes on me. We hadn t had any t i me t o t al k
pr i vat el y si nce we d got t en her e, but I caught hi s gaze and t r i ed t o send hi ma l ook
t hat had ever yt hi ng I was t hi nki ng i n i t . He was a bi g boy. He coul d handl e t he
swear wor ds.
The r oom s door swung open, wi t h i t s pecul i ar ai r r ush. A t al l , sandy- hai r ed man
st r ode i n as i f he wer e t he ki ng of t he wor l d. He was f ol l owed by Anne Wal ker and
anot her whi t ecoat I hadn t seen bef or e.
Dese ar e dey? he asked, soundi ng l i ke Ahnol d i n The Ter mi nat or .
Al r eady he had me angr y. We be t hem, I sai d snar ki l y, and hi s pal e, wat er y bl ue
eyes f ocused on me l i ke l aser s.
Di s voul d be de vun cal l ed Max? he asked hi s assi st ant , as i f I coul dn t hear .
I not onl y woul d be Max, I amMax, I sai d, i nt er r upt i ng t he assi st ant s answer .
I n f act , I ve al ways been Max and al ways wi l l be.
Hi s eyes nar r owed. Mi ne nar r owed back at hi m.
Yes, I can see vhy dey ve been sl at ed f or ext er mi nat i on, he sai d casual l y, as
hi s assi st ant made not es on a cl i pboar d.
And I can see why you wer e vot ed l east popul ar i n your cl ass, I sai d. So I
guess we r e even.
He i gnor ed me, but I saw a t i ny muscl e i n hi s j aw t wi t ch.
Next , hi s eyes l i t on Nudge. Di s vun can t cont r ol her mout h or , obvi ousl y, her
br ai n, he sai d. Somet hi ng vent wr ong vi s her t hought pr ocesses, cl ear l y.
I f el t Nudge st i f f en at my si de. Bi t e me, she sai d.
That s my gi r l .
Und di s vun, he went on, poi nt i ng at Gazzy. Hi s di gest i ve syst emhas di sast r ous
f l aws. He shook hi s head. Per haps an enzyme i mbal ance.
Anne Wal ker l i st ened expr essi onl essl y.
Di s vun- vel l , you can see i t f or your sel f , t he man sai d, wi t h a casual f l i ck of
hi s hand at I ggy. Mul t i pl e def ect s. A compl et e f ai l ur e.
Yes, Dr . t er Bor cht , mur mur ed hi s assi st ant , wr i t i ng f ur i ousl y.
Fang and I i nst ant l y l ooked at each ot her . Ter Bor cht had been ment i oned i n t he
f i l es we d st ol en f r omt he I nst i t ut e.
I ggy, sensi ng t er Bor cht was t al ki ng about hi m, scowl ed. Takes one t o know one,
he sai d.
De t al l , dar k vun- der e s not hi ng speci al about hi mat al l , t er Bor cht sai d
di smi ssi vel y of Fang, who hadn t moved si nce t he doct or had come i n.
Wel l , he s a snappy dr esser , I of f er ed. One si de of Fang s mout h qui r ked.
Und you, t er Bor cht sai d, t ur ni ng back t o me. You haf a mal f unct i oni ng chi p,
you get debi l i t at i ng headaches, and your l eader shi p ski l l s ar e sadl y much l ess t han
ve had hoped f or .
And yet I coul d st i l l ki ck your doughy Eur ot r ash but t f r omher e t o next Tuesday.
So t hat s somet hi ng.
Hi s eyel i ds f l i cker ed, and i t seemed t o me t hat he was cont r ol l i ng hi msel f wi t h
di f f i cul t y.
Wel l , I get under peopl e s ski ns. I t s a gi f t I have, what can I say?

47
Ter Bor cht l ooked at hi s assi st ant . Let s get on vi s de quest i oni ng, he sai d
abr upt l y. Tur ni ng t o me, he sai d, Ve need t o gat her some f i nal dat a. Den you vi l l
be ext er mi nat ed.
Ooh, I sai d. I f I had boot s on, I d be quaki ng i n t hem. I t apped my bar e t oes
agai nst t he f l oor .
I saw a qui ck f l ar e of anger i n hi s eyes.
No, r eal l y, I sai d, mucho si ncer el y. Tot al l y quaki ng, I pr omi se. You r e r eal l y
a ver y scar y man.
Fi r st you, he bar ked suddenl y at Gazzy, and Gazzy coul dn t hel p j umpi ng a t i ny
bi t . I l ooked at hi mr eassur i ngl y and wi nked, and hi s nar r ow shoul der s st r ai ght ened.
Vhat ozzer abi l i t i es do you haf ? t er Bor cht snapped, whi l e hi s assi st ant wai t ed,
pen i n hand.
Gazzy t hought . I have X- r ay vi si on, he sai d. He peer ed at t er Bor cht s chest ,
Page 33
t hen bl i nked and l ooked al ar med.
Ter Bor cht was st ar t l ed f or a second, but t hen he f r owned. Don t wr i t e dat down,
he t ol d hi s assi st ant i n i r r i t at i on. The assi st ant f r oze i n mi dsent ence.
Gl ar i ng at t he Gasman, t er Bor cht sai d, Your t i me i s comi ng t o an end, you
pat het i c f ai l ur e of an exper i ment . Vhat you say now i s how you vi l l be r emember ed.
Gazzy s bl ue eyes f l ashed. Then you can r emember me t el l i ng you t o ki ss my-
Enough! t er Bor cht sai d. He t ur ned suddenl y t o Nudge. You. Do you haf any
qual i t i es dat di st i ngui sh you i n any way?
Nudge chewed on a f i nger nai l . You mean, l i ke, besi des t he wi ngs? She shook her
shoul der s gent l y, and her beaut i f ul f awn- col or ed wi ngs unf ol ded a bi t .
Hi s f ace f l ushed, and I f el t l i ke cheer i ng. Yes, he sai d st i f f l y. Besi des de
vi ngs.
Hmm. Besi des de vi ngs. Nudge t apped one f i nger agai nst her chi n. Um. . . Her
f ace br i ght ened. I once at e ni ne Sni cker s bar s i n one si t t i ng. Wi t hout bar f i ng.
That was a r ecor d!
Har dl y a speci al t al ent , t er Bor cht sai d wi t her i ngl y.
Nudge was of f ended. Yeah? Let s see you do i t .
I vi l l now eat ni ne Sni cker s bar s, Gazzy sai d i n a per f ect , cr eepy i mi t at i on of
t er Bor cht s voi ce, vi sout bahf i ng.
Ter Bor cht wheel ed on hi mas I smot her ed a gi ggl e. I t wasn t f unny when Gazzy di d
a pi t ch- per f ect i mi t at i on of me, but i t was hi l ar i ous when he di d i t t o ot her
peopl e.
Mi mi cr y, t er Bor cht sai d t o hi s assi st ant . Wr i t e dat down.
Wal ki ng over t o I ggy, he poked hi mwi t h hi s shoe. Does anysi ng on you vor k
pr oper l y?
I ggy r ubbed hi s f or ehead wi t h one hand. Wel l , I have a hi ghl y devel oped sense of
i r ony.
Ter Bor cht t sked. You ar e a l i abi l i t y t o your gr oup. I assume you al vays hol d on
t o someone s shi r t , yes? Fol l owi ng demcl osel y?
Onl y when I mt r yi ng t o st eal t hei r desser t , I ggy sai d t r ut hf ul l y.
Wr i t e t hat down, I t ol d t he assi st ant . He s a not or i ous desser t st eal er .
Ter Bor cht moved over t o Fang and st ood exami ni ng hi mas i f he wer e a zoo exhi bi t .
Fang l ooked back at hi m, and pr obabl y onl y I coul d see hi s t ensi on, t he f ur y r oi l i ng
i nsi de hi m.
You don t speak much, do you? t er Bor cht sai d, ci r cl i ng hi msl owl y.
Fi t t i ngl y, Fang sai d not hi ng.
Vhy do you l et a gi r l be de l eader ? t er Bor cht asked, a cal cul at i ng l ook i n hi s
eye.
She s t he t ough one, Fang sai d.
Dang r i ght , I t hought pr oudl y.
I s der e anysi ng speci al about you? asked t er Bor cht . Anysi ng vor t h savi ng?
Fang pr et ended t o t hi nk, gazi ng up at t he cei l i ng. Besi des my f ashi on sense? I
pl ay a mean har moni ca.
Ter Bor cht l ocked hi s gaze on me. Vhy haf you t r ai ned demt o act st upi d di s vay?
They wer en t st upi d. They wer e sur vi vor s.
Why do you st i l l l et your mot her dr ess you? I count er ed sni del y.
The assi st ant busi l y st ar t ed wr i t i ng t hat down but f r oze at a l ook f r omt er
Bor cht .
The sci ent i st st epped cl oser t o me, l ooki ng down menaci ngl y. I cr eat ed you, he
sai d sof t l y. As de sayi ng goes, I br ought you i nt o di s wor l d, and I vi l l t ake you
out of i t .
I vi l l now dest r oy de Sni ckuhs bahr s! Gazzy bar ked. Then t he f i ve of us wer e
l aughi ng- l i t er al l y i n t he f ace of deat h.

48
Oops, I sai d once we wer e al one agai n. Guess t hey f or got t o pr ogr amus wi t h any
r espect f or aut hor i t y.
Those i di ot s, Gazzy sai d, scuf f i ng hi s f oot agai nst t he f l oor .
We wer e f eel i ng vi ct or i ous, but i t was st i l l cl ear : We wer e capt i ve, and r i ght now
t hey hel d al l t he t ar ot car ds.
I mi ss Tot al , sai d Nudge.
I si ghed. I f he ever exi st ed.
We di dn t i magi ne t he hawks. . . or t he bat s, Nudge sai d.
Page 34
Yeah, sai d I ggy. We di dn t i magi ne t hose cr eepy subway t unnel s i n New Yor k.
Or t he headhunt er , at t hat school , sai d Gazzy.
I know. I msur e we di dn t , I sai d, t hough act ual l y I wasn t , not a hundr ed
per cent , anyway.
Ar i came and got me agai n t hat af t er noon. Thi s t i me I was act ual l y al l owed t o
wal k. Wee- hah!
I don t t r ust hi m. Keep your eyes open, Fang mur mur ed as I was l eavi ng.
Ya t hi nk? I whi sper ed back.
So what s t hi s al l about , Ar i ? I asked, as we passed some whi t ecoat s who l ooked
at us st r angel y. How come we r e t aki ng t hese l i t t l e t our s?
Now t hat I wasn t st r apped t o a l ead wheel chai r , I was memor i zi ng ever y hal l ,
ever y door way, ever y wi ndow.
He l ooked uncomf or t abl e and st i l l subdued. For a wol ver i ne, anyway. I mnot
sur e, he mut t er ed. They j ust sai d wal k her ar ound.
Ah, I sai d. So we can assume t her e s somet hi ng t hey want me t o see. Besi des t he
br ai n on a st i ck and t he super babi es.
Ar i shr ugged. I don t know. They don t t el l me anyt hi ng.
J ust t hen we passed wi de doubl e door s, and one of t hemswung open as we went by. A
whi t ecoat hur r i ed f r omt he r oombeyond, but not bef or e I d caught a gl i mpse i nsi de.
On a l ar ge vi deo scr een t hat t ook up a whol e wal l , I saw a map of t he wor l d. My
r apt or vi si on t ook i n a t housand det ai l s i n a second, whi ch I di gest ed as Ar i and I
wal ked. Each count r y was out l i ned, and one ci t y i n each count r y was hi ghl i ght ed.
Above t he map was a t i t l e car d, THE BY- HALF PLAN. I d hear d of t hat somewher e
bef or e.
On an of f chance t hat i t woul d act ual l y get me somewher e, I asked Ar i , So, what s
t he By- Hal f Pl an?
Ar i shr ugged. They r e pl anni ng t o r educe t he wor l d s popul at i on by hal f , he
expl ai ned mor osel y.
I al most st opped i n my t r acks but r emember ed t o keep wal ki ng and t o l ook
di si nt er est ed. Geez, by hal f ? That s what , t hr ee bi l l i on peopl e? They r e ambi t i ous
l i t t l e bugger s.
My mi nd was r eel i ng at t he i dea of genoci de on t hat l evel . I t made St al i n and
Hi t l er l ook l i ke ki nder gar t en t eacher s. Okay, r eal l y evi l ki nder gar t en t eacher s, but
st i l l .
Ar i shr ugged agai n, and I r eal i zed i t was har d f or hi mt o get wor ked up about
t hi ngs when he was goi ng t o di e any day now.
I t hought about what el se I had seen, and i t suddenl y hi t me: I d seen some of
t hi s st uf f bef or e, l i ke i n a movi e, or a dr eam, or i n. . . one of t hose skul l - spl i t t i ng
i nf odumps I used t o get . For a whi l e I d had i nt ensel y hor r i bl e headaches, wher e i t
f el t l i ke my br ai n was i mpl odi ng i nsi de my skul l . Then t ons of i mages, wor ds,
sounds, st uf f woul d scr ol l t hr ough my consci ousness. I r eal i zed t hat some of what I
was seei ng, sayi ng, doi ng r i ght now- I d al r eady seen i t .
Thi nk, t hi nk.
I was st i l l concent r at i ng when we t ur ned a cor ner and I l i t er al l y r an i nt o
someone. Two someones.
J eb and Angel .

49
Max! Sweet hear t , sai d J eb. I mgl ad t hey r e l et t i ng you get some exer ci se.
I st ar ed at hi m. So I l l be i n r eal l y good shape when t hey ki l l me?
He wi nced and sor t of cl ear ed hi s t hr oat .
Hi , Max, sai d Angel .
I j ust l ooked at her .
You shoul d r eal l y t r y one of t hese cooki es, she sai d, hol di ng out a
chocol at e- chi p chunk of t r eason.
Thanks. I l l make a not e of i t . You l yi ng t r ai t or .
Max- you know I had t o do what was r i ght , she sai d. You wer en t maki ng t he best
deci si ons anymor e.
Yeah, l i ke t he one when I deci ded t o come r escue your ski nny, ungr at ef ul but t , I
sai d.
Her smal l shoul der s sagged, and her f ace l ooked sad.
Be st r ong, Maxi mum, I t ol d mysel f . You know what you got t a do.
I have l ot s of speci al power s, she sai d. I deser ve t o be t he l eader . I deser ve
Page 35
t o be saved. I mmuch, much mor e speci al t han you or Fang.
You j ust keep t el l i ng your sel f t hat , I sai d col dl y. But don t expect me t o get
on boar d.
Her hear t - shaped f ace t ur ned mut i nous. I don t need you t o get on boar d, Max.
Her voi ce had an edge of st eel i n i t . She d l ear ned t hat f r omme. What el se had she
l ear ned? Thi s i s al l happeni ng whet her you r e on boar d or not . You r e goi ng t o be
r et i r ed soon, anyway. She t ook an angr y bi t e of cooki e.
Maybe. But i f I am, I mgoi ng t o come back and haunt you, ever y day f or t he r est
of your har d, t r ai t or ous l i t t l e l i f e.
Her eyes wi dened, and she act ual l y t ook a st ep back.
Okay, t hat s enough, you t wo, sai d J eb, j ust t he way he used t o when some of us
woul d mi x i t up back i n t he day.
What ever , I sai d i n my t r ademar k bor ed t one. I st epped ar ound t hem, avoi di ng any
t ouch as i f t hey wer e poi son, and headed down t he hal l . My hear t was poundi ng, and I
f el t an unwel come f l ush heat my cheeks.
Ar i caught up t o me. We wal ked i n si l ence f or a whi l e, t hen he sai d, as i f
of f er i ng a consol at i on pr i ze, They r e bui l di ng an ar my, you know.
Of cour se t hey ar e, I t hought , f eel i ng depr essed. How do you know?
I ve seen t hem. Ther e s a whol e hangar f ul l of Fl yboys, hangi ng up, char gi ng.
They have t housands, and t hey r e maki ng mor e al l t he t i me. They r e gr owi ng Er aser
ski ns i n t he l ab.
Why ar e you t el l i ng me t hi s? I asked.
He f r owned, l ooki ng conf used. Then he shr ugged. I don t know. I ve al ways seen
you f i ght . Even t hough I know you can t get out of t hi s, i t s l i ke I st i l l want you
t o know what you r e up agai nst .
Ar e you set t i ng me up? I asked bl unt l y. I s t hi s a t r ap? I mean, even mor e of a
t r ap t han i t obvi ousl y al r eady i s?
He shook hi s head. No. I t s j ust . . . I know I mnever get t i ng out of her e. My
t i me s over . I guess par t of me hopes you st i l l have a chance.
I t made some sor t of sad, pat het i c sense.
Oh, I mget t i ng out of her e, I pr omi se you. And maybe, j ust maybe, I woul d t ake
hi mwi t h us.

50
Under t he gener al headi ng Tor t ur i ng t he Bi r d Ki ds, Par t Deux, you mi ght f i nd a
whi t ecoat handi ng us a car dboar d box t hat ni ght .
We opened i t car ef ul l y, expect i ng i t t o expl ode i n our f aces.
I nsi de, we f ound a sl i mwr apped package. I t was a pi ct ur e f r ame, book si ze but no
t hi cker t han a penci l . Of cour se Gazzy was t he f i r st one t o pr ess t he r ed but t on on
t he si de.
The f r ame bl oomed i nt o l i f e, and t her e i t was: t hat same pi ct ur e Fang and I had
f ound, once i n a cr ack house i n DC and once i n Dr . Mar t i nez s house. I swal l owed
har d, t hi nki ng about her . Wonder i ng i f she was r eal . Hopi ng she was okay. Tr yi ng t o
f i gur e out what her deal was.
The pi ct ur e was of baby Gasman, wi t h hi s t el l t al e cowl i ck, bei ng hel d by a woman
who l ooked ki nd of t i r ed and washed out . He was pl ump and happy, maybe a f ew mont hs
ol d.
Then t he pi ct ur e st ar t ed movi ng, not l i ke a movi e but l i ke t he act ual pi ct ur e was
j ust . . . movi ng. The i mage zoomed i n and r ot at ed, as i f we wer e wal ki ng ar ound t he
woman and f ocusi ng on Gazzy. Then t he pi ct ur e pul l ed back and swung ar ound. We saw
an ugl y r oom, wi t h cr acked wal l s and di r t y wi ndows. Was t hat t he squat t er s house
we d vi si t ed i n Washi ngt on? Bef or e i t had become a bombed- out haven f or t hugs?
The camer a f ocused on a wooden t abl e, t hen on a sl i p of paper l yi ng on t he t abl e.
Agai n i t enl ar ged and shar pened, enough so t hat we coul d r ead t he paper .
I t was a check. The name i t was made out t o was obl i t er at ed. The check was f r om
I t ex, f or $10, 000.
Gazzy coughed sl i ght l y, and I f el t hi mt r yi ng t o cont r ol hi msel f .
Hi s mot her had sol d hi mf or $10, 000 t o t he whi t ecoat s at t he School .

51
I di dn t know why onl y Gazzy s l i f e was i n t he pi ct ur e f r ame, or why none of t he
r est of us got one. Those whi t ecoat s sur e l i ked t o keep us guessi ng!
We al l checked one anot her f or expi r at i on dat es, but none of us had t hem. Yet . But
Page 36
you know, when you ve f aced i mmi nent deat h as of t en as we have, i t get s a l i t t l e
ol d, f r ankl y. Our r oomhad no wi ndows, so we had zer o r ef er ence f or t i me passi ng. We
f ought of f bor edomby comi ng up wi t h pl ans t o escape, cour ses of act i on t o t ake. I
l ed t he f l ock t hr ough al l ki nds of scenar i os, how we coul d use each one t o our
advant age.
That s what l eader s do.
Now, l et s say t hey come get us, I st ar t ed f or t he hundr edt h t i me.
And, l i ke, t he hal l s ar e f ul l of zebr as, I ggy mut t er ed sar cast i cal l y.
And suddenl y t ons of bubbl es ar e ever ywher e, sai d t he Gasman.
And t hen ever yone st ar t s eat i ng beef j er ky, Nudge suggest ed.
Yeah, sai d I ggy, r ubbi ng hi s hands t oget her . I l l gr ab a zebr a; Gaz, you f i l l
al l t he bubbl es wi t h your t r ademar k scent , so peopl e ar e choki ng and gaggi ng; and
l et s t hr ow beef j er ky r i ght i nt o t hei r eyes! Now, t hat s a pl an!
They al l col l apsed i nt o l aught er , and even Fang gr i nned at me as I gazed sour l y at
t he f l ock.
I j ust want us t o be pr epar ed, I sai d.
Yeah- pr epar ed t o di e, sai d I ggy.
We r e not goi ng t o di e! I snapped. Not now, not anyt i me soon!
What about our expi r at i on dat es? Gazzy asked. They coul d show up any second.
And what about st upi d Angel , t ur ni ng on us?
Ther e was a l ot I want ed t o say t o hi mabout t hat , but now wasn t t he t i me.
I opened my mout h t o spout some r eassur i ng l i es, but t he door opened.
We t ensed, t ur ni ng qui ckl y t o see a whi t ecoat comi ng at us, ar med wi t h a
cl i pboar d. He checked hi s not es and pushed hi s gl asses up on hi s nose.
Okay, he sai d br i skl y. I need t he bl i nd one and t he one t hat can mi mi c voi ces.
He l ooked up expect ant l y as we st ar ed at hi m.
Ar e you on dr ugs? I asked i n di sbel i ef .
Me? No, he sai d, l ooki ng conf used. He t apped hi s pen agai nst hi s cl i pboar d. We
need t o r un some l ast t est s.
I cr ossed my ar ms over my chest as Fang and I i nst i nct i vel y moved bet ween t he
whi t ecoat and t he r est of t he f l ock.
I don t t hi nk so, I sai d.
The whi t ecoat l ooked sur pr i sed at my noncompl i ance- obvi ousl y he hadn t r ead al l of
our case not es. No, come al ong now, he sai d, st r i vi ng f or aut hor i t at i ve and
achi evi ng onl y weeni e.
You r e ki ddi ng, r i ght ? I asked. Unl ess you r e packi ng a submachi ne gun, you r e
f l at out of l uck, buddy.
He f r owned. Look, how about t hey j ust come al ong peacef ul l y, and t her e won t be
any t r oubl e.
Uh. . . how about , no?
What ki nd of t r oubl e? Gazzy asked f r ombehi nd me. I mean, anyt hi ng t o br eak t he
bor edom.
The whi t ecoat t r i ed t o l ook st er n. Look, we r e t r yi ng t o expl or e ot her opt i ons t o
your r et i r ement , he sai d. You mi ght be usef ul t o us i n ot her ways. Onl y peopl e who
ar e usef ul wi l l sur vi ve t he By- Hal f Pl an. Act ual l y, i t s r eal l y mor e l i ke t he
One- i n- a- Thousand Pl an. Onl y peopl e wi t h usef ul ski l l s wi l l be necessar y i n t he new
or der , t he Re- Evol ut i on. You shoul d want t o hel p us f i nd out i f you r e at al l usef ul
t o us al i ve.
Because we r e pr obabl y not t hat usef ul dead, Nudge sai d t hought f ul l y.
No, I agr eed. Wel l , maybe as door st ops.
The whi t ecoat made an eew expr essi on.
Or l i ke t hose t hi ngs i n a par ki ng l ot t hat show wher e t he car s shoul d st op,
suggest ed I ggy. He cl osed hi s eyes and went st i f f , t o demonst r at e what i t woul d l ook
l i ke.
Al so an opt i on, I conceded, whi l e t he whi t ecoat l ooked hor r i f i ed.
No, he sai d, scr ambl i ng f or composur e. But Chi na i s i nt er est ed i n usi ng you as
weapons.
That was i nt er est i ng. Wel l , you t el l Chi na t o bi t e us, I sai d. Now, skedaddl e
on out of her e, bef or e we t ur n you i nt o a door st op.
Come f or t est i ng, he t r i ed f i r ml y one l ast t i me.
Come back t o r eal i t y, I sai d, j ust as f i r ml y.
He t ur ned angr i l y and headed f or t he door . Gazzy l ooked at me, l i ke, Shoul d we
r ush hi m, push past hi m? I shook my head: Not now.
Page 37
You l l pay f or t hi s, t he whi t ecoat sai d, f l ashi ng hi s I D car d at t he aut omat i c
l ock.
Boy, i f I had a ni ckel f or ever y t i me I ve hear d t hat , I mused.

52
See, when you r e an evi l , endl essl y f unded i nsane sci ent i st , you have bot h t he
means and t he mot i ve t o, say, suddenl y gas a whol e r oomof host age bi r d ki ds.
Causi ng sai d bi r d ki ds t o pass out wi t hout even r eal i zi ng i t and t hen wake up i n a
met al cage i n t he mi ddl e of a f i el d.
At ni ght .
Some of you have pr obabl y j umped ahead and ar e al r eady at t he pl ace wher e you
r eal i ze t hi s happened t o us, and I mnot j ust r at t l i ng on hypot het i cal l y, so good on
ya!
Unhhh, Gazzy moaned, st ar t i ng t o st i r .
I f or ced mysel f t o si t up. Ther e wer e no l i ght s. Even t he moon and st ar s wer e
bl ocked by t hi ck, l ow- l yi ng cl ouds.
You ar e avake, yah? sai d a voi ce i n a hor r i bl y r ecogni zabl e accent .
Yah, I mut t er ed, r ubbi ng my head. And you ar e st i l l a but t hol e, yah?
I t s t i me f or you t o be el i mi nat ed, t er Bor cht sai d, soundi ng gl eef ul . You
don t cooper at e vi s de t est s, you ar e usel ess t o us.
I hel ped Nudge si t up, r ubbi ng her back as she cl ear ed her t hr oat .
I don t bel i eve t hi s, Fang mut t er ed, r ol l i ng hi s shoul der s. He l ooked ar ound at
our cage. I t was bi g enough t o hol d us, as l ong as we di dn t want t o do anyt hi ng
f r i vol ous, l i ke st and up or move ar ound.
Bel i eve i t , sai d t er Bor cht , cl appi ng hi s hands t oget her . Toni ght ve i mpl ement
our Re- Evol ut i on Pl an! Vhen ve ar e done, ve vi l l haf a wor l d of l ess dan a bi l l i on
peopl e. Each count r y vi l l be under our cont r ol ! Der e vi l l be no i l l nesses, no
veakness. De new st r ong, smar t popul at i on vi l l save di s pl anet und t ake us i nt o de
t vent y- second cent ur y!
Yeah, I sai d. And i f you l ook i n t he di ct i onar y under del usi onal
megal omani ac, you l l see your pi ct ur e.
Nussi ng you say vi l l bozzer me, t er Bor cht sai d mor e cal ml y. I t i s t i me t o
el i mi nat e you. You haf f ai l ed al l de t est s. You ar e not usef ul .
No, but we r e dang cut e, I sai d, wi l l i ng my br ai n t o st ar t chur ni ng out i deas. I
scanned t he sky and t he f i el d as best I coul d t hr ough t he bar s, but I saw not hi ng.
Come on, come on, I t hought .
Max? Nudge whi sper ed. She edged cl oser t o me and t ook my hand. I squeezed her s
r eassur i ngl y, but I was t hi nki ng t hat maybe our t i me r eal l y was up. The f i ve of us
wer e hunched back- t o- back i nsi de t he cage, al l of us l ooki ng out .
Then a cl umpy bl ob was comi ng t owar d us, gr owi ng l ar ger . I t t ook onl y a second f or
me t o see t hat i t was a gr oup of peopl e wal ki ng acr oss t he f i el d. Pr obabl y her e t o
get good seat s f or t he f un. Some of t hemwer e wear i ng whi t e coat s, of cour se, but
not al l of t hem. My eyes pi cked out J eb and Anne Wal ker .
How can we br eak out of her e? Gazzy whi sper ed so onl y t he f l ock coul d hear .
Ther e s a pl an, I mur mur ed back. Ther e s al ways a pl an. Wel l , i t sounded good.
Chi l dr en, sai d J eb when he was cl ose enough. I t doesn t have t o be t hi s way.
Okay, I sai d. Let s have i t be di f f er ent . Let us out of t he cage!
He pr essed hi s l i ps t oget her , gi vi ng hi s head a t i ny shake.
Next i t was Anne s t ur n. I nsi de t he cage, we wer e pr act i cal l y vi br at i ng wi t h
t ensi on.
Do you know what s r eal l y sad? she asked.
That pi n- st r i ped pant sui t ? I guessed. Those sensi bl e shoes?
We gave you ever y chance, Anne sai d.
No, see, gi vi ng us ever y chance woul d be openi ng t hi s cr uel and i nhuman cage and
l et t i ng us out , I sai d, r eady t o expl ode. That woul d be ever y chance. Thi s way,
you ve onl y gi ven us some chances. You see t he di f f er ence?
Enough! t er Bor cht bar ked. Di s i s poi nt l ess. Ve r e j ust vai t i ng f or de
execut i oner s. Say your good- byes.
Good- bye, sai d a sweet l i t t l e- gi r l voi ce.
And t hen a shi ny met al bar swung t hr ough t he ai r and smacked t er Bor cht s head
wi t h a si ckeni ng, mel onl i ke spl at .

53
Page 38
Wel l . I t cer t ai nl y got exci t i ng as heck af t er t hat .
Angel ! Nudge scr eamed, echoed cl osel y by Gazzy. Fang and I t hr ew our sel ves
agai nst t he cage bar s, shaki ng t hemhar d, sear chi ng f or weak poi nt s.
Angel ni mbl y bobbed and weaved, her whi t e wi ngs beat i ng as f ast as my hear t . She
di ve- bombed t he gr oup of sci ent i st s, who scat t er ed, scr eami ng f or Fl yboys t o come t o
t he r escue.
I can t br eak i t ! Fang sai d, sl ammi ng hi s f i st s agai nst t he cage.
But I can! The gr avel l y voi ce f r ombehi nd made us spi n i n t i me t o see Ar i do a
f ul l mor ph i nt o a good ol ol d- f ashi oned Er aser . I d f or got t en how wol f i sh he coul d
get , and hi s f ace, wi t h i t s f ul l snout packed wi t h yel l ow, dr i ppi ng t eet h, was
hor r i bl e up t hi s cl ose.
Get back! I shout ed, pushi ng t he f l ock away f r omhi m. Two r agged- cl awed paws
gr i pped t he met al bar s, and Ar i l unged at us, f angs snappi ng.
I gasped as hi s t eet h cr unched down on t he bar s- and t hen, wi t h gr i sl y
t wi st i ng- met al sounds, he st ar t ed t o chew t hr ough.
Out si de, Angel hover ed l i ke a demoni c hummi ngbi r d, swi ngi ng her bar , keepi ng
ever yone and ever yt hi ng away f r omus.
She s goi ng t o l et Ar i eat us! Nudge cr i ed. She br aced her sel f agai nst t he cage
and cl enched her hands i nt o f i st s. But i t won t be easy f or hi m!
Ti me- out . Okay, now, t el l t he t r ut h: When s t he l ast t i me you had t o deci de t o
make i t har d f or someone t o eat you? That s j ust t he zany, r ol l er - coast er l i f e of a
l ab r at on t he r un.
I t was t i me t o spi l l . Angel s not a t r ai t or , I sai d. She and I agr eed t hat she
woul d do t hi s so she d be on t he i nsi de and coul d get us out i f anyt hi ng happened.
She s been my spy.
Ti me hal t ed as f our dumbst r uck bi r d ki ds t ur ned t o gape at me.
We came up wi t h t hi s pl an i n case t he wor st happened, I sai d f ast . Whi ch i t
di d, of cour se. Angel s not a t r ai t or - never was.
Smash! Ti me sped up agai n as Ar i managed t o gnaw t hr ough one of t he bar s. I t was
st omach chur ni ng t o see- t he r i pped met al cut hi s mout h up somet hi ng awf ul , and bl ood
mi ngl ed wi t h f oul Er aser spi t was f l yi ng ever ywher e.
Cr ack! Ooh- Angel had whacked anot her whi t ecoat . Li ke t er Bor cht , t hi s one dr opped
l i ke a st one. I n f act , t er Bor cht hadn t got t en up- he was r ol l i ng on t he gr ound,
moani ng.
Ri i i p! Ar i br oke t hr ough anot her bar of t he cage, and hi s unnat ur al l y st r ong ar ms
began t o wr est t he sur r oundi ng bar s apar t . Hi s f ace was a r epul si ve bl oody- meat
pi ct ur e as he snar l ed and gr unt ed wi t h t he ef f or t .
I l l t ake hi mout , Fang whi sper ed t ensel y i n my ear . Then you gr ab t he ot her s
and get out of her e.
I qui ckl y t apped ever yone s hands t wi ce. They caught my eye and nodded, and we al l
br aced f or Fang s move.
Wi t h a f i nal , wr enchi ng, ear spl i t t i ng scr eech, Ar i f or ced t he bar s apar t , maki ng
an Er aser - si zed hol e i n t he cage wal l .
Ready. Fang s voi ce was deadl y qui et i n t he scr eami ng chaos ar ound us.
We al l t ensed, r eady t o spr i ng out as soon as Fang t ook Ar i down- but i nst ead of
comi ng i n af t er us, Ar i backed away qui ckl y.
Come on! he shout ed. Get out of t her e! We l l hol d t hese guys back!
Wha?
He s on our si de! Angel yel l ed f r omabove. He s wi t h me! He s get t i ng you out !
Ar i ! Rel ease t he secr et weapon!
Ar i f umbl ed wi t h hi s j acket , and a smal l coal - col or ed shadow popped out of i t and
began t o r ace ar ound, gr owl i ng and snappi ng.
Was i t - coul d i t be?
Move i t or l ose i t ! Tot al shout ed. Let s go, go, go!

54
Fang shot t hr ough t he hol e i n t he cage, gr abbed Tot al , and was up i n t he ai r
bef or e t hr ee seconds had passed. Amazi ngl y, Ar i st ood of f t o t he si de and l et hi m
go.
I shoved Nudge t hr ough next , and she t ook a r unni ng l eap, f al t er ed f or a moment ,
t hen st r oked har d and r ose i nt o t he ai r .
St i l l Ar i st ood back.
Wat chi ng hi mcl osel y, I pushed I ggy out . Four st eps, up at t en o cl ock, I
Page 39
hi ssed. He nodded, t hen f ol l owed my i nst r uct i ons.
Come on, Gasman, you r e l ast , I sai d, and pr act i cal l y t hr ew hi mout of t he cage,
wi nci ng as t he t or n met al scr at ched hi m. A mi nor concer n at t hi s poi nt .
Ar i wat ched hi mgo.
Angel was keepi ng t he humans at bay, and i t was my t ur n. Ar i and I had a t r oubl ed
hi st or y- okay, we usual l y want ed t o ki l l each ot her , and one t i me I di d ki l l hi m- but
I coul dn t wor r y about i t r i ght now. I l eaped f r omt he cage, t ook a st ep on t he
gr ound, t hen snapped my wi ngs out and was up i n t he ai r wi t hi n one br eat h.
Oh, God, i t f el t so good t o be up, f l yi ng, away f r oma wor l d t hat hel d onl y pai n
and deat h f or us.
I mso gl ad t o see you guys, sai d Tot al , soundi ng a l i t t l e choked up. I t hought
you wer e dead! I di dn t know what I d do wi t hout you.
Gl ad t o see you agai n t oo, I sai d, sur pr i si ng mysel f by act ual l y meani ng i t .
Bel ow us, Angel dr opped t he met al bar and zi pped upwar d, st r eami ng l i ke a comet ,
her smal l f ace ser ene and beaut i f ul . I bl ew her ki sses t hr ough t he ai r , my f ai t hf ul
par t ner i n decept i on, and she beamed at me.
I t was at t hat poi nt t hat t he execut i oner s ar r i ved and st ar t ed shoot i ng at us. I
saw J eb gr ab one of t hei r ar ms, t r yi ng t o mess up hi s ai m, but t he guy j ust cl ubbed
hi mdown wi t h hi s gun, t hen kept f i r i ng.
We wer e al r eady out of r ange. They woul d need a mi ssi l e l auncher t o hi t us now.
Nyah, nyah, nyah, I sai d qui et l y, l ooki ng down at t hem. I sucked i n sweet
l ungf ul s of ni ght ai r , count ed my f l ock, and t ook a moment t o f ocus my di r ect i on,
f eel i ng wher e we wer e, whi ch way was nor t h, wher e we shoul d go.
Then I saw Ar i , st i l l on t he gr ound. The men wi t h guns wer e r unni ng t owar d hi m.
Ar i ! I suddenl y scr eamed wi t hout t hi nki ng. Get out of t her e! Come up! Come wi t h
us!
What ?! Fang excl ai med. Ar e you nut s? What t he heck ar e you t hi nki ng?
Ar i pr obabl y coul dn t hear exact l y what I sai d, but when he saw me wavi ng my ar ms,
he must have under st ood. He r an cl umsi l y, a seven- year - ol d f r eak i n a huge
l i nebacker body, and f or ced hi msel f i nt o t he ai r . A bul l et gr azed one of hi s
unwi el dy pat ched- on wi ngs, but he kept f l yi ng awkwar dl y, r i si ng upwar d sl owl y but
st eadi l y.
Max, you ar e way out of l i ne, Fang sai d f ur i ousl y. He t ossed Tot al t hr ough t he
ai r at Gazzy, who gave a st ar t l ed cr y and gr abbed t he l i t t l e dog. Ther e s no way
he s comi ng wi t h us!
He saved our l i ves, I poi nt ed out . They r e goi ng t o ki l l hi m.
Good! Fang sai d, a savage expr essi on on hi s f ace. He s t r i ed t o ki l l us a
hundr ed t i mes!
I d act ual l y never seen Fang l i ke t hi s.
Max, Ar i s r eal l y mean, Nudge sai d. He s t r i ed t o hur t you, and he s t r acked
us- I don t want hi mwi t h us.
Me nei t her , sai d t he Gasman. He s one of t hem.
I t hi nk he s changed, I sai d, as Ar i f l ew t owar d us.
He hel ped get you guys out , Angel r emi nded us. And he f ound Tot al f or me.
Fang gave me an enr aged, di sgust ed l ook and f l ew of f bef or e Ar i got t o us. Looki ng
doubt f ul , Nudge and Gazzy went wi t h hi m. I ggy hear d t hei r di r ect i on and f ol l owed.
Leavi ng me, Angel , and Ar i behi nd.

55
Thanks, Max, Ar i sai d when he was wi t hi n ear shot . You won t r egr et t hi s, I
pr omi se. I mgoi ng t o keep you saf e.
I f r owned at hi m, t r yi ng not t o l ook at hi s r ui ned, gor y f ace. We al l keep each
ot her saf e, I sai d shor t l y, t hen swung i nt o a st eepl y pi t ched r i ght t ur n. I saw
Gazzy and t he ot her s swoopi ng over t he School s l ar ge par ki ng l ot . An ent r ance t her e
l ed t o addi t i onal , under gr ound par ki ng.
Wher e s I ggy? I demanded.
The Gasman poi nt ed downwar d, and I saw I ggy l eani ng over t he open hood of a car .
Oh, no, I mut t er ed, as I ggy sl ammed t he hood shut , t hen pushed t he car t owar d
t he sl opi ng ent r ance t o t he under gr ound par ki ng.
Oh no, oh no, I cont i nued as t he car smoot hl y, si l ent l y r ol l ed t hr ough t he
openi ng and di sappear ed. I ggy shot upwar d, l ooki ng happi er t han he had i n weeks.
And a- one, and a- t wo, and a- t hr - , he began.
Boom! A massi ve expl osi on bl ew par t of t he t op of f t he par ki ng gar age. We qui ckl y
Page 40
f l ew out of r ange as st r eami ng chunks of gl owi ng r ed asphal t , gl ass, and concr et e
r ocket ed t hr ough t he ni ght sky. Al ar ms went of f . Out door emer gency l i ght s f l ashed
on.
Way t o be! t he Gasman cr owed, sl appi ng hi gh f i ves wi t h I ggy.
Yeah, I sai d. Way t o be l oud and obvi ous about wher e we ar e and what we r e
doi ng.
Hi gh f our ! Tot al sai d, hol di ng up a paw. That r ocked!
I f el t Fang l ooki ng at me f ur i ousl y, but I avoi ded hi s eyes. Ar i hung back on t he
per i pher y.
I needed sever al moment s t o get a gr i p. Why had I asked Ar i t o come wi t h us? Now
ever yone was mad at me. But i t had seemed l i ke t he r i ght t hi ng t o do. On t he ot her
hand, i t r equi r ed a per haps i l l - f at ed l eap of f ai t h on my par t t hat he woul dn t
suddenl y t ur n bad agai n. I mnot r eal good at l eaps of f ai t h.
Then agai n, Ar i was goi ng t o di e soon anyway.
I wheel ed ar ound and f aced t he f l ock, t hei r f or ms di ml y l i t by t he f i r ebal l bel ow.
Boom! Anot her expl osi on, even bi gger t han t he f i r st , bl ew out anot her sect i on of
t he gar age. I l ooked at I ggy, and as i f he coul d sense i t , he shr ugged.
Bi g gar age f ul l of bi g car s wi t h bi g gas t anks.
What ever . Okay, guys, l et s head nor t h, I sai d br i skl y. No i dea why, no i dea
wher e, but i t seemed l i ke t he r i ght t hi ng t o do.
Somet i mes al l you have i s i nst i nct , a gut f eel i ng. I t s i mpor t ant t o pay at t ent i on
t o t hem.
I al most gr oaned al oud. Look what t he cat dr agged i n, I t hought . Hel l o, Voi ce.
Hel l o, Maxi mum. I mgl ad you r e okay.
No t hanks t o you, I t hought as I l evel ed out and st ar t ed f l yi ng di r ect l y nor t h.
I ve mi ssed t al ki ng wi t h you.
Wel l , I can t say t hat I ve mi ssed you, I t hought . But I sor t of mi ssed you t oo.
Now I mback.
Yep.
And you know what el se was back? I saw i t when I waved f or t he ot her s t o f ol l ow me
mor e cl osel y.
The scar s on my ar m. Fr omt aki ng out my chi p.

Par t 3
Br eaki ng Up I s Har d t o Do

56
What do you know? I t wasn t al l a dr eamaf t er al l . And somehow my hand st i l l
wor ked now. So, bonus.
Fi r st t hi ng we di d was ci r cl e back and pi ck up t he gear t hat Fang and I had
st ashed bef or e we d been caught i n t he deser t . Then we f l ew t hr ough t he col d ni ght
ai r , nor t h, and t hen nor t heast . I can t expl ai n how I know wher e t o go- i t s l i ke I
have an i nt er nal compass or somet hi ng. At t he School , when we wer e l i t t l e, t hey d
done t ons of exper i ment s sear chi ng f or our magnet i smsensor s, whi ch t el l us wher e
magnet i c nor t h i s.
They di dn t f i nd t hem.
The f ar t her nor t h we went , t he hi gher t he mount ai ns got , and t he mor e snow was on
t he gr ound. Was i t st i l l December ? J anuar y? Had we mi ssed Chr i st mas? I d have t o
check a newspaper t he next t i me we wer e i n ci vi l i zat i on.
Fang was st i l l r adi at i ng f ur y, not l ooki ng at me, f l yi ng ahead of us, not t al ki ng
t o anyone. Nudge, Gazzy, and I ggy wer e al so avoi di ng me, Angel , and Ar i . I si ghed.
Long f l i ght s ar e a good t i me t o t hi nk t hi ngs t hr ough. I guess t hat s t r ue f or
peopl e on ai r pl anes t oo. I went on aut opi l ot , my wi ngs movi ng power f ul l y t hr ough t he
col d, my l ungs pumpi ng ai r i n and out . Ever y so of t en we d hi t a cur r ent and coast
f or a whi l e, movi ng our wi ngs i n mar gi nal f r act i ons t o t ake advant age of nat ur e
doi ng t he wor k f or us.
I was bor n t o f l y. And yeah, I know t ons of peopl e bef or e me have sai d t hat ,
t hought t hat .
But I was l i t er al l y bor n t o f l y, made t o f l y, cr eat ed wi t h t he pur pose of bei ng
abl e t o pr opel mysel f t hr ough t he ai r as ef f or t l essl y as any bi r d.
And I mf abul ous at i t , l et me t el l you.
Max?
Nudge had dr opped back next t o me, but she st i l l wasn t l ooki ng me i n t he eye, and
Page 41
she was as f ar away f r omAr i as possi bl e.
Yes?
I mhungr y. We al r eady went t hr ough ever yt hi ng we had i n t he packs. I t hi nk t he
ot her s ar e hungr y t oo. Tot al keeps whi ni ng- you know what he s l i ke.
Uh- huh.
So, uh, i s t her e a pl an t o st op somewher e? Get some f ood?
I l ooked at her . Ther e s al ways a pl an.
And j ust l i ke t hat , boom: I had one.

57
Not t oo l ong ago ( t hough i t f el t l i ke sever al l i f et i mes) , Fang, Nudge, and I had
f ound a vacat i on house i n Col or ado. No one had been usi ng i t t hen, but now i t was
ski season, and snow l ay t hi ck on t he gr ound. St i l l , i t was wor t h checki ng out .
Because t he ot her s wer e ahead of me, I sped up t o be i n f r ont . Then I changed
di r ect i on sl i ght l y, knowi ng exact l y how t o get t her e f r omher e.
Taki ng a chance, I gl anced at Fang.
Wher e ar e you goi ng? A l i t t l e hi deaway t hat Ar i knows about ? I ci cl es cr ackl ed on
hi s wor ds.
The ski house we f ound. Maybe i t s st i l l unoccupi ed. Be a pl ace t o r est up.
He shook hi s head. No way! You know t he r ul es- never r et ur n t o a pl ace you ve
been! I f someone s been t her e, t hey know i t was br oken i nt o and wi l l have beef ed up
t hei r secur i t y. I f no one s been t her e, we pr et t y much cl eaned out al l t he f ood
anyway.
God, I j ust hat ed i t when he was r easonabl e and l ogi cal . I mean, i f t her e was ever
anyt hi ng cal cul at ed t o make me see r ed. . .
I ve t hought of t hat , I sai d cal ml y. But we need some downt i me, and i t s our
best opt i on.
I t i s not ! he sai d. We shoul d f i nd a canyon or cave somewher e and hunker down-
I mt i r ed of caves and canyons! I sur pr i sed bot h of us by snappi ng. I mt i r ed
of deser t r at , medi umr ar e! I want a r oof and a bed and f ood t hat I don t have t o
cat ch and ski n!
He st ar ed at me, and i nst ant l y I f el t embar r assed, as i f I had j ust admi t t ed I
wasn t t ough as nai l s.
Wel l , t oo bad. That was how I f el t .
I sped up, l eavi ng Fang behi nd, and headed r i ght f or t he vacat i on home.

58
I magi ne, i f you wi l l , a somewhat r un- down, not ver y much used vacat i on haci enda.
For t hose of us wi t hout even an ever yday haci enda, t he not i on of havi ng a vacat i on
one makes us posi t i vel y gi ddy. Even an unr enovat ed one.
J ust l i ke bef or e, we came down i n t he woods a di st ance f r omt he house and cr ept
st eal t hi l y near er . As we got cl ose, we hear d voi ces and t he pur r of a car engi ne.
Fang gl ar ed at me l i ke, I t ol d you so. Peopl e wer e her e.
Okay, di d you l ock up? one voi ce sai d.
Yeah. And t he f i r e s out .
Good. I can t wai t t o come back.
Maybe Sat ur day, r i ght ?
So t her e you go. Car door s sl ammed, and t he voi ces wer e muf f l ed. We pr essed
agai nst t r ee t r unks, t r yi ng t o hi de our br eat h comi ng out l i ke smoke.
I l ooked back at Fang and r ai sed my eyebr ows i n t r i umph. They wer e l eavi ng. I t was
per f ect . We wai t ed f or t en mi nut es af t er t he car dr ove away, t hen, unr epent ant
l i t t l e f el ons t hat we wer e, br oke i n.
I di d t r y t o do as l i t t l e damage as possi bl e, t hough. Must be al l t hat gi r l y
sensi t i vi t y t hey wi r ed i nt o my DNA.
I t s war m! sai d Angel happi l y.
Let s check out t he ki t chen! Nudge hur r i ed t owar d i t .
Thi s i s gr eat , sai d Ar i . Fang shot hi ma venomous gl ance, t hen scowl ed at me. I
i gnor ed hi mand headed t o t he ki t chen. I t was t i me f or some ser i ous chow.
Oh, t hank God t hey r e not veget ar i ans, Nudge sai d wi t h f eel i ng, pul l i ng out some
cans of beef st ew.
What s t hat one t hat s wor se t han veget ar i an? Gazzy wr i nkl ed hi s nose.
Vegan, I answer ed hi m. Let s cr ank t hose babi es open. I r ummaged f or an
opener .
Page 42
Look, t hey even have some dog f ood! t he Gasman sai d, hol di ng up a paper sack.
Tot al l ooked at hi m. You r e ki ddi ng me, r i ght ?
The f r i dge had some act ual f r esh f ood i n i t - cheese and appl es. J am. But t er .
Oh, pi g heaven, Nudge br eat hed.
Ar i had a har d t i me eat i ng- he had r ui ned hi s mout h. I di dn t say anyt hi ng. We al l
make choi ces, and we al l have t o l i ve wi t h t hem.
Have you t hought about your choi ces l at el y, Max? asked t he Voi ce. Ar e you maki ng
choi ces f or t he gr eat er good or j ust f or your sel f ?
Not hi ng l i ke a di sembodi ed voi ce i nsi de your head t o dul l your appet i t e. Cl ear l y
I mnot maki ng choi ces j ust f or mysel f , I t hought aci dl y. I f I wer e, I d be r eadi ng
a good book i n a comf y hammock. Somepl ace war m.
What di d t hat guy mean, t hat Chi na want ed t o use us as weapons? I ggy asked,
pour i ng hal f a box of cer eal i nt o a bowl . Wi t hout spi l l i ng any.
I don t know. I f r owned. I guess we coul d be spi es? We coul dn t car r y heavy
ar ms or anyt hi ng. I mean, who knows what t hose head cases have cooked up? Pr obabl y
mor oni c st uf f , l i ke us duct - t aped t o a bomb, pr ogr ammi ng i t at t he l ast second or
somet hi ng.
Gazzy l aughed, and I l ooked ar ound, t hi nki ng, My f l ock i s t oget her and saf e. For
now.
Wel l , my f l ock and Ar i , t he wal ki ng ci r cus si deshow. And a t al ki ng dog. But st i l l .
Can I t al k t o you? Fang was st andi ng over me, hi s body r adi at i ng t ensi on.
Oh, gr eat . Can i t wai t ? I at e t he l ast pi ece of canned r avi ol i , t hen scr aped t he
can wi t h my f or k.
No.
I debat ed i t , but t her e was r eal l y no i gnor i ng Fang when he was l i ke t hat .
Si ghi ng, I pushed back my chai r and st al ked out si de. On t he por ch, I cr ossed my ar ms
over my chest .
Okay, l et s have i t out , I sai d, t r yi ng not t o show t hat he was upset t i ng me.
Choose now, he spat , hi s eyes pr act i cal l y shoot i ng spar ks. Me or hi m.

59
Gosh, Fang, you r omant i c f ool , I sai d sar cast i cal l y. How i ncr edi bl y sexi st - pi g
of you.
He snor t ed i n exasper at i on but di dn t l ook as dumb doi ng i t as you d t hi nk. Not
as a boyf r i end, you i di ot ! I meant as a member of t hi s f l ock! God, f ul l of your sel f ,
ar en t you? I mean, ei t her he goes or I go. I mnot goi ng t o st ay whi l e you l et
someone who s t r i ed t o ki l l bot h of us, mor e t han once, st ay!
I know i f I t hi nk about i t , I l l f i gur e t hat sent ence out , I snapped. But I
don t have t o choose bet ween you! Peopl e change, Fang. Face i t , he hel ped save our
l i ves. He wor ked wi t h Angel . And whi l e we wer e t her e, he l et me i n on some of t he
st uf f goi ng on at t he School .
Yeah, and I msur e he had no ul t er i or mot i ve f or t hat ! I msur e he s not wi r ed,
not t r acki ng us, not t el l i ng ever yone wher e we ar e r i ght t hi s second! I msur e seven
year s of br ai nwashi ng and t r ai ni ng j ust wor e of f once you bat t ed your eyes at hi m!
I gaped at hi m. He s seven year s ol d, you j er k! And I mnot bat t i ng my eyes at
anyone! Not you, not hi m, not anyone! He doesn t even t hi nk l i ke t hat !
I d never seen Fang so angr y. Hi s l i ps wer e pr essed t i ght l y t oget her , and t he ski n
ar ound hi s mout h was whi t e.
And I msur e you r e maki ng t he bi ggest mi st ake of your l i f e! he shot back. Year s
of l i vi ng i n hi di ng, f l yi ng under t he r adar bot h l i t er al l y and f i gur at i vel y, meant
t hat even now, when we wer e bot h spi t t i ng f i r e, our voi ces wer e l ow, pi t ched t o
r each onl y each ot her . Ar i s a ki l l er ! Fang sai d. He s t oxi c! They ve pol l ut ed
hi mand scr ewed hi mup so much he can t even t hi nk. He s a t ot al l i abi l i t y, and
you r e out of your mi nd i f you t hi nk i t s f i ne t hat he s her e!
I hesi t at ed. He was my r i ght - hand man, my best f r i end, t he one who al ways, al ways
had my back. He d di e t o save me, and I d t hr ow mysel f i n f r ont of a t r ai n f or hi m
wi t hout a second s t hought .
Okay, I sai d sl owl y, r ubbi ng my t empl es. I r eal l y t hi nk he s changed, and hi s
expi r at i on dat e i s gonna ki ck i n soon, anyway. But I know hi s bei ng her e i s bummi ng
ever yone out .
You pi cked up on t hat , huh, Sher l ock?
My eyes bl azed. I mt r yi ng t o meet you hal f way, ni mr od! I was goi ng t o say l et me
t hi nk about i t . I n t he meant i me, I l l keep an eagl e eye on hi m. Fi r st si gn of
Page 43
anyt hi ng suspi ci ous, I l l ki ck hi s but t out mysel f . Okay?
Fang st ar ed at me i n di sbel i ef . Ar e you nut s? Di d t hey f i nal l y send you ar ound
t he bend? Ar i needs t o go now!
He doesn t have anywher e el se t o go! He hel ped us, r emember ? They r e not gonna
l et hi mback i n. Pl us, I keep t el l i ng you, he s onl y seven year s ol d, no mat t er how
bi g he i s. How s he gonna sur vi ve?
I don t gi ve a cr ap, Fang sai d i ci l y. I mf i ne wi t h hi mnot sur vi vi ng at al l .
Remember t hi s? He yanked up hi s shi r t t o show t he pi nk l i nes of hi s heal ed scar s,
t he ones f r omwhen Ar i had sl i ced hi mup l i ke a t ender l oi n and al most made hi mbl eed
t o deat h.
I shudder ed j ust t hi nki ng about t hat awf ul day. I r emember , I sai d qui et l y. But
I can t j ust ki ck hi mout i nt o t he col d wi t h no pl ace t o go, no way t o sur vi ve. Not
knowi ng t hat t he whi t ecoat s wi l l be gunni ng f or hi mnow. I t s onl y f or a f ew
days- j ust t i l l he expi r es.
I t f el t wei r d sayi ng i t l i ke t hat . Li ke r et i r e. Expi r e. Al l di f f er ent wor ds f or
di e. He was seven year s ol d and wasn t goi ng t o l i ve t o see ei ght .
And hi s f i r st seven year s had sucked, bi g- t i me.
Fang poked me har d i n t he chest .
Hey! I sai d.
He l eaned ver y cl ose, sever al i nches t al l er t han me, and got r i ght i n my f ace. But
t hi s t i me he di dn t ki ss me.
You r e maki ng your wor st mi st ake, he snar l ed. And i t s gonna cost you. You l l
see.
Wi t h t hat , he t ur ned and j umped of f t he por ch, not even hi t t i ng t he gr ound bef or e
hi s wi de, dar k wi ngs t ook hi msoundl essl y i nt o t he ni ght .

60
You ar e r eadi ng Fang s Bl og. Wel come!
Today s dat e: Al r eady Too Lat e!
You ar e vi si t or number : 28, 772, 461
TO EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE
WARNI NG
HEADS- UP
EVI L SCI ENTI STS WI LL END LI FE AS WE KNOWI T
And even as we don t know i t .
I know what i t s cal l ed now, f ol ks. I t s cal l ed t he Re- Evol ut i on Pl an. And t he
By- Hal f Pl an. We got out of t he School ( anyone who want s t o bomb t hem, f eel f r ee) .
Now we r e i n hi di ng, ha ha. Whi l e we wer e t her e, we f ound out t hat t he pl an i s t o
basi cal l y KI LL anyone wi t h any ki nd of di sease or weakness. The onl y peopl e l ef t
wi l l be per f ect l y heal t hy and have usef ul ski l l s. So ever yone bone up on somet hi ng
usef ul ! Or go i nt o hi di ng. And i f you have t he sni f f l es, cr awl under a r ock and
don t come out .
What woul d be usef ul , you ask? I ve made a char t .
USEFUL
NOT USEFUL
Pl umber
Pol i t i ci an
Car pent er
Publ i ci st
Boat bui l der
Ar t hi st or y buf f
Far mer
Cel ebr i t y chef
Sani t at i on cr ew
Page 44
I nt er i or desi gner
Cat t l e r ancher
Pet psychi c
Sci ent i st
Cel ebr i t y r ock/ pop/ hi p- hop st ar
Mi l i t ar y
Teen i dol
Medi cal per sonnel
Li f e coach
So t hi s woul d be a good t i me t o exami ne your car eer goal s.
Last t i me I checked, mor e t han 28 mi l l i on peopl e had hi t t hi s bl og. Way t o go,
peopl e. Save your sel ves. Save your br ot her s and si st er s. Don t l et t he whi t ecoat s
get you.
And i f you see any f l yi ng ki ds, keep your mout h shut .
- Fang, f r omsomewher e i n Amer i ca

61
I was shaki ng af t er Fang and I f ought . I t s not t hat we never f ought - we di d al l
t he t i me. But not l i ke t hi s. Thi s was t he maddest I d ever seen hi m. Af t er he t ook
of f , I st ayed out si de a mi nut e, unt i l I coul d past e a f ake smi l e on my f ace. No
sense i n wor r yi ng t he ot her s.
When I went back i nsi de, t he f l ock and Ar i and Tot al wer e al l spr awl ed on t he
f ur ni t ur e or f l oor . They had t hat gl azed l ook t hat comes f r omget t i ng al l t he f ood
you want , f or once. I exami ned Ar i . He was i n a chai r by hi msel f . None of t he ot her s
wer e anywher e near hi m. Hi s cl ot hes wer e st i l l cover ed i n bl ood.
I r ai ded a cl oset and t hr ew a f l annel shi r t at hi m. He l ooked up i n sur pr i se.
Thanks.
Okay, who want s f i r st wat ch? I sai d.
Wher e s Fang? Gazzy asked.
He went out f or a whi l e. He l l be back, I sai d shor t l y. Of cour se he woul d be
back.
I l l t ake f i r st wat ch, Ar i sai d.
I made an execut i ve deci si on. No, t hat s okay. I l l do i t . The r est of you get
some sl eep. I di dn t meet Ar i s eyes.
Whi l e t he ot her s sl ept , I went t hr ough t he f r i dge and pant r y and t ook ever yt hi ng
t hat woul dn t spoi l and wasn t t oo heavy. I r epacked al l of our packs and set t hem
cl ose t o t he door . I wal ked ar ound si l ent l y, t ur ni ng of f l i ght s, t hen went out si de
and f l ew up ont o t he snow- cover ed r oof .
I per ched by t he br i ck chi mney, whi ch r adi at ed heat .
Ever yt hi ng was qui et .
Ages l at er , Fang r et ur ned. I t r i ed not t o br eat he a si gh of r el i ef . I hadn t been
t hat wor r i ed, anyway. He f l ew up, saw me, and l anded, f l appi ng hi s wi ngs f or bal ance
as he t r i ed t o f i nd a pl ace on t he r oof .
None of us ar e r eal bi g wi t h t he apol ogi es, t he hear t f el t hugs. I gl anced at hi m,
t hen went back t o keepi ng wat ch, doi ng r egul ar 360 scans, l i st eni ng, wai t i ng.
Twent y- ei ght mi l l i on peopl e have cl i cked on t he bl og, he sai d.
Good Lor d. Huh.
I mput t i ng ever yt hi ng I know about what s goi ng on out t her e, he went on.
Maybe i f enough peopl e get a heads- up, t hey can st op what ever s happeni ng.
St oppi ng i t i s your j ob, Max.
I t hought we wer e supposed t o st op i t , I sai d.
What , wi t h one hand t i ed behi nd your back? Fang scof f ed. You don t have t o save
t he wor l d, Max, no mat t er what t hey t el l you.
For some r eason t hat st ung- l i ke he di dn t t hi nk I coul d do i t . I d al ways t hought
he d be on boar d f or anyt hi ng I had t o do.
So now you and your bl og ar e goi ng t o do i t ? I can go t o bed and sl eep i n? The
wor ds came out mor e caust i c t han I i nt ended.
Fang shot me a si deways gl ance, hi s eyes unr eadabl e. He shr ugged and l ooked away.
Page 45
Okay, now I was mad al l over agai n. I hat ed i t when Fang and I f ought , but I hat ed
even mor e hi mt hi nki ng t hat I - you know, wasn t abl e t o save t he wor l d by mysel f .
I msur e a l ot of you gi r l s out t her e wor r y about t he same t hi ng, huh?
Next you l l be t el l i ng me you ve got a Voi ce i n your head, I sai d sar cast i cal l y,
st andi ng up. I bal anced on t he r oof , hol di ng my wi ngs out f or hel p. Li ke a squi r r el
does wi t h i t s t ai l . Onl y t hi r t een f eet acr oss.
Maybe, he sai d cool l y, not l ooki ng at me.
I was speechl ess. Whi ch i s, as you know, ver y r ar e.
Fi ne. You r e on second wat ch, I mut t er ed, and j umped down f r omt he r oof . I
l anded i n t he sof t snow and went ar ound t o t he por ch.
I nsi de, Ar i had not r i pped ever yone s t hr oat s out whi l e t hey sl ept . I t occur r ed t o
me t hat Angel was t el epat hi c, and she woul d have pi cked up on any evi l i nt ent t hat
Ar i had.
I was pr et t y sur e, anyway.
I made t he r ounds, checked on t he sl eepi ng f l ock, t hen posi t i oned mysel f i n an
ar mchai r r i ght next t o wher e Ar i sl ept heavi l y on t he f l oor . That way, i f he moved,
he d wake me up.
I was bur ni ng up over Fang. I coul dn t bel i eve how f ul l of hi msel f he was. Hi mand
hi s bl og. Fi ne! Let hi msave t he wor l d! I st i l l had my mi ssi on.
You bot h have har d deci si ons t o make, Max. Deci si ons t hat wi l l af f ect t he whol e
wor l d, your f ut ur e. Ever yone s f ut ur e.
Oh, good, so no pr essur e, I t hought . I punched t he cushi on of t he ar mchai r i nt o a
bet t er shape and cl osed my eyes.
I wasn t goi ng t o sl eep a wi nk.

62
I n t he mor ni ng, Fang and I br oke up.
And j ust t o set t he r ecor d st r ai ght , I l ef t hi m. A spl i t second af t er he l ef t me.
He t ol d me he want ed t o do hi s own t hi ng, f ol l ow hi s own mi ssi on, as he put i t . He
want ed t o act on l eads t hat peopl e wer e sendi ng i n t o hi s bl og.
I st ar ed at hi m. You r e basi ng your pl an f or human sal vat i on on e- mai l ?
He l ooked back at me. You r e basi ng your s on a Voi ce i nsi de your head. A Voi ce
t hat i sn t act ual l y j ust you t al ki ng t o your sel f . Ri ght ?
Wel l , when he put i t t hat way. . .
I j ust coul dn t compr ehend what was happeni ng.
And t hen we had t o t el l t he ki ds. I went over a hundr ed conver sat i ons i n my
r eel i ng head. What woul d t hey say? How coul d we expl ai n t hi s?
I ve deci ded t o go my own way, Fang t ol d t he f l ock abr upt l y. He cast a gl ance at
Ar i , t hen went on. Al most anyone s wel come t o come wi t h me.
Go wi t h hi m! Over my dead body.
I t hi nk we shoul d al l st i ck t oget her unt i l Fang comes back, I sai d cal ml y.
Because i f any of you pi ck hi mi nst ead of me, I l l ki l l you.
Four pai r s of f l ock eyes, one dog, and Ar i st ar ed at us, back and f or t h.
Hol y cr ap, sai d Tot al .
You guys shoul dn t do t hi s, sai d Nudge, l ooki ng wor r i ed.
I shr ugged, my f ace f l ami ng. Fang was t he one doi ng i t .
You cr azy ki ds, Tot al mut t er ed. He paced back and f or t h on hi s shor t l egs, t hen
went and sat on t op of Angel s f eet . She r eached down absent l y and st r oked hi s head.
We have t o choose? Gazzy squeaked. He l ooked at Fang, t hen at me. Then at Ar i .
Cr ap, I t hought .
I l l go wi t h Fang. I ggy s f ace was expr essi onl ess, but hi s voi ce hur t my hear t .
Shocked, I was gl ad he coul dn t see my f ace.
I swal l owed, unabl e t o t al k.
I mgoi ng t o st ay wi t h Max, sai d Nudge unhappi l y, put t i ng her hand i n mi ne. I
squeezed i t , but I saw how she l ooked at Ar i out of t he cor ner s of her eyes. She
di dn t t r ust hi m, di dn t want hi mwi t h us.
I l l go wher ever Angel goes, Tot al sai d. I f I must .
The Gasman and Angel wer e si l ent . Angel must have been communi cat i ng wi t h hi m
t el epat hi cal l y because he shook hi s head and l ooked l i ke he was concent r at i ng har d.
Fi nal l y Angel nodded her head deci si vel y and nudged Tot al of f her f eet t o come st and
next t o me.
I mgoi ng wi t h Max, she sai d.
Yeah, what ever , sai d Tot al gr umpi l y, f l oppi ng back ont o Angel s f eet .
Page 46
I mgoi ng wi t h Fang, sai d Gazzy. I st ar ed at hi mi n ast oni shment .
Ar i was t he onl y one l ef t , a gl ar i ng out si der t o our f ami l y.
No- br ai ner , Ar i mumbl ed, comi ng t o st and by me. Hi s f ace was st ar t i ng t o heal
ver y f ast , t he way our wounds di d. Max.
Pl ease, pl ease, don t l et me r egr et t hi s, I pr ayed t o a hi gher power . I mean, any
mor e t han I al r eady r egr et i t .
Fi ne, sai d Fang, sl i ngi ng on hi s pack.
Fi ne, I sai d, t i l t i ng my chi n up, wi shi ng wi t h al l my st r engt h t hat he woul dn t
do t hi s, and maki ng dar n sur e he coul dn t t el l I was wi shi ng i t .
And t hat was t hat . The f l ock was spl i t i n t wo. And I r eal l y had no i dea i f I woul d
ever see Fang and hi s gr oup agai n.

63
A si gn of l eader shi p? Faci ng your r emai ni ng f l ock wi t h a cal mf ace and a conf i dent
ai r when i t s al l you can do not t o bar f your gut s up i n t he snow f r omst r ess and
mi ser y.
Hal f my f l ock was gone. Fang was gone. My r i ght - hand man. How coul d he do t hi s?
Di dn t he need me?
I st r ai ght ened my shoul der s. I di dn t need hi m. Not anymor e.
Okay, guys, I sai d t o Nudge, Angel , and Ar i . And Tot al . I coul d see t hat Nudge
and Angel wer e t r yi ng t o keep st i f f upper l i ps. Possi bl y Ar i and Tot al , but i t was
har der t o t el l wi t h t hem.
I can t bel i eve t hey went , Nudge sai d, t ypi cal l y bl ur t i ng out somet hi ng I was
t hi nki ng but woul d never say al oud. We shoul dn t spl i t up. We pr omi sed t o never
spl i t up agai n. We need t o al l st i ck t oget her .
Tel l t hat t o Fang. I t s not what I hoped woul d happen, but we r e f i ne, I sai d
aut hor i t at i vel y.
What ar e we goi ng t o do now? Angel asked. Do we have a pl an?
I gave her a l of t y l ook. Ther e s al ways a pl an. How many t i mes do I have t o t el l
you guys? Come on, Max, pul l a pl an out of your hat , qui ck.
Go t o Eur ope.
Oh, t hank God. Goddess. What ever . The Voi ce f i nal l y had somet hi ng const r uct i ve t o
say and not j ust mor e f or t une- cooki e cr ap.
We r e goi ng t o Eur ope, I sai d f i r ml y. I handed out packs, and onl y t hen r eal i zed
t hat Ar i or I woul d have t o car r y Tot al , most l y. Nei t her Nudge nor Angel woul d be
abl e t o t ake hi s wei ght f or ver y l ong.
Gr eat . I j ust had t o hope t hat Ar i woul dn t eat Tot al .
Eur ope! Nudge sounded exci t ed. I ve al ways want ed t o go t o Eur ope! Wher e ar e we
goi ng? I want t o see t he Ei f f el Towel !
That s t ower , I sai d. Ei f f el Tower . Act ual l y, we r e headed t o. . .
Engl and, f i r st . St ar t wi t h Engl and. Look f or School s.
Engl and, I sai d, hol di ng my ar ms out f or Tot al . He gave a l i t t l e hop, and I
zi pped hi mi nsi de my j acket . Onl y hi s smal l f uzzy f ace peeked out at t he neck. He
st i l l l ooked a l i t t l e mangy, and I hoped hi s f ace f ur woul d f i l l i n soon. We r e
goi ng t o l ook f or School s, gat her i nf or mat i on. Lear n ever yt hi ng we can about t hi s
Re- Evol ut i on Pl an. And we r e goi ng t o have t o move f ast .
I mon your si de, Ar i sai d, soundi ng si ncer e. I mgoi ng t o pr ot ect you no
mat t er what . He l ooked down, and I caught a gl i mpse of t he scar ed seven- year - ol d he
was i nsi de. Unt i l my expi r at i on dat e, anyway.
I nodded, not l et t i ng any sof t er emot i ons t hr ough.
Okay, t hen, I sai d, st ar t i ng t o r un down t he dr i veway f or a f ast t akeof f . We
head east !
As al ways, I f el t much, much bet t er once we wer e hi gh, hi gh i n t he ai r . The l and
bel ow us was a pat chwor k of gr een and br own, wi t h t i ny si l ver t hr eads of r i ver s and
gr ay cl umps of ci t i es. I t was col d, and t he wi nd made my eyes wat er , but I f el t
cal mer , mor e i n cont r ol , i n t he ai r .
I t st ar t ed t o occur t o me t hat Engl and was r eal l y f ar away, over a honki ng bi g
bunch of wat er . We d f l own f or seven, ei ght hour s st r ai ght a coupl e t i mes, but i t
was har d, and we d been wi ped af t er war d. And God knew Ar i wasn t t hat st r ong a
f l i er . Not wi t h t hose wei r d t aped- on wi ngs. Hmm. No pl ace t o l and and r est over t he
At l ant i c Ocean.
Go t o Washi ngt on DC. Ther e s a di r ect f l i ght f r omDul l es.
Li ke, a pl ane?
Page 47
Exact l y l i ke. Ri ght down t o t he shi ny si l ver out si de.
Us. . . on a pl ane. That seemed so wr ong, somehow. Redundant .
Pl us, t her e was t he whol e cooped- up, cl aust r ophobi a i ssue.
You l l be f i ne.
We r e headed t o Washi ngt on DC, I t ol d my new mi ni f l ock. We r e goi ng t o t ake a
pl ane f r omt her e.
Ever yone l ooked ast oni shed. I wonder ed how we woul d get Ar i , wi t h hi s bi zar r e and
scar y appear ance, t hr ough a busy ai r por t .
We r e goi ng t o t ake a pl ane? Nudge asked, her voi ce pr act i cal l y squeaki ng.
Tot al f r owned. I sn t t hat r edundant ?
I si ghed.

64
Fl yi ng west wi t hout Max was l i ke f l yi ng wi t h one wi ng mi ssi ng, Fang t hought . He
kept seei ng her f ace, f ur i ous, conf used, and, even t hough she woul d never admi t i t ,
scar ed. He d seen t hat f ace j ust about ever y day of hi s ent i r e l i f e. He d seen i t
f i l t hy wi t h caked- on di r t , br ui sed and bl oodi ed, snar l i ng, l aughi ng, sl eepi ng,
t el l i ng compl i cat ed l i es wi t h t ot al si ncer i t y. . . l ooki ng down at hi mwi t h t hat l i ght
i n her eyes, t hat communi cat i on bet ween t hem. . . .
But she had hi s back agai nst a wal l . What di d she expect hi mt o do? J ust l i e back
and t ake Ar i ? Li ke, oh, sur e, he d j ust f or get how many t i mes Ar i d t r i ed t o ki l l
t hem, how l i kel y i t was t hat he was wi r ed and t r acki ng t hem, how danger ous he was t o
have ar ound. He was a di sast er of pat ched- t oget her body par t s, upgr ades, t wi st ed
emot i ons, psychol ogi cal t or t ur e. A wal ki ng, f l yi ng t i me bomb about t o expl ode.
Fang l ooked at i t t hi s way: I f you knew you wer e checki ng out i n a coupl e days no
mat t er what , wel l , what di d i t mat t er what t he heck you di d? You coul d do cr azy
st uf f , danger ous st uf f , br eak any l aw, ki l l anybody. None of i t woul d mat t er because
you d be col d and st i f f i n a coupl e days. Fr i ends di dn t mat t er , l oyal t y di dn t
mat t er . You coul d bur n any br i dge.
That was who Max was choosi ng t o spend t i me wi t h. Who she was l et t i ng hang ar ound
t he younger ki ds.
Fang woul d have f ol l owed Max t o t he end of t he wor l d, wher ever and whenever t hat
was. I f she d dr opped i nt o t he cone of an act i ve vol cano, he woul d have backed her
up, no mat t er what .
But he coul dn t go al ong wi t h Ar i .
Fang? The Gasman s voi ce was subdued. None of t heml i ked bei ng spl i t up. I f t hey
f el t as t hough hal f of t hemwer e mi ssi ng, i t was because t hey wer e.
Fang l ooked at hi mand r ai sed an eyebr ow.
Wher e ar e we goi ng?
West Coast , Fang sai d. The opposi t e of wher ever Max was goi ng.
What s t her e? I ggy asked.
Funny you shoul d ask. The bi ggest i nf or mat i on- di ssemi nat i on syst emi n t he wor l d,
Fang sai d. A pl ace t o get out news f ast .
The Gasman f r owned. What , l i ke, some comput er pl ace? Some ki nd of t ower ?
Fang shook hi s head. Peopl e magazi ne.
I s t hi s par t of t he l i e l ow and be i nconspi cuous pl an? I ggy asked poi nt edl y.
No, Fang sai d, angl i ng hi s wi ng t i ps j ust a hai r t o l ead t hemi nt o a
t went y- t hr ee- degr ee t ur n. Thi s i s par t of t he bl ow t he st or y open, post t he bl og,
t el l t he wor l d pl an.
Oh.
Yep. Al ways pr et end t her e was a pl an. A l esson he d l ear ned so ver y wel l f r omMax.

65
I hat e you! You r e such l oser s! I ggy s f ace was a pi ct ur e of anger and
f r ust r at i on. You r e j ust bei ng j er ks.
Fang r ol l ed hi s eyes. Then, r emember i ng, he sai d, I mr ol l i ng my eyes, I ggy.
I mshr uggi ng my shoul der s, sai d t he Gasman, t aki ng a st upendous bi t e of hot
dog. I have no i dea what t he heck you r e t al ki ng about .
Descr i be t he peopl e on t hi s beach, I ggy sai d agai n. Thi s i s Veni ce Beach! Par t
of LA. Home of Fr eak Uni ver si t y! And you guys ar e, l i ke, l ooki ng at maps and st uf f !
I s t her e r eal l y a col l ege named Fr eak Uni ver si t y? The Gasman l ooked t hr i l l ed.
No, Fang t ol d hi m. So much f or Gazzy s dr eams of hi gher educat i on. Fang smoot hed
t he map out on t he sl at t ed bench i n f r ont of t hemand st ar t ed l ooki ng f or l andmar ks.
Page 48
Unt i l I ggy ki cked hi m.
Ow! Dang i t ! What s wr ong wi t h you?
Uner r i ngl y, I ggy s hand shot out and gr abbed a f i st f ul of Fang s shi r t . He pul l ed
Fang s f ace cl ose t o hi s own. Descr i be. The. Peopl e.
Ther e s a mi l l i on peopl e, Fang sai d, i r r i t at ed. Why? Ar e you meet i ng someone i n
par t i cul ar her e? Shoul d I be l ooki ng f or a man wi t h a r ose i n hi s t eet h, hol di ng a
New Yor k Ti mes?
Thi s i s Veni ce Beach, I ggy sai d agai n. Home of r ol l er di sco. I smel l coconut
oi l . I hear hi gh- pi t ched gi ggl es. I know we must be sur r ounded by beach bunni es, and
you r e l ooki ng at a map!
Oh.
What s a beach bunny? t he Gasman asked, hi s mout h f ul l .
Fang gl anced ar ound. Beach bunny, schmeach bunny. Who car es? As l ong as t hey r e
not Fl yboys.
I ggy gr oaned so l oudl y t hat sever al peopl e near by t ur ned t o l ook. Fang ki cked hi s
shi n l i ght l y, t el l i ng hi mt o cool i t .
Who car es? I ggy whi sper ed, soundi ng out r aged. Who car es? I do! You can see
t hem. I can t . And God knows I won t be abl e t o get f ami l i ar wi t h t hemby t ouch.
J ust do me a f avor !
What woul d Max do i n t hi s case? Fang wonder ed. Act ual l y, he di dn t t hi nk I ggy
woul d have t al ked t o Max about i t . Thi s was a guy- guy si t uat i on.
Si ghi ng, Fang l ooked ar ound. Um, okay. Ther e ar e t wo gi r l s over t her e. One s i n a
whi t e bi ki ni . One has Ut opi a wr i t t en acr oss her but t . They have bi g bl ond hai r .
Um, over t her e i s an Asi an gi r l , skat i ng on Rol l er bl ades, wi t h her dog, l i ke a
gr eyhound or somet hi ng, r unni ng besi de her . Oops, she al most t ook out t hat
st r ol l er .
What s she wear i ng? I ggy asked.
A st r i ped bi ki ni .
And knee guar ds, t he Gasman put i n.
Oh, man, I ggy br eat hed. Mor e, mor e.
He never woul d have done t hi s i n f r ont of Max, Fang t hought . She woul d have been
al l over hi ml i ke ugl y on an ape, t el l i ng hi mwhat a sexi st pi g he was.
But t hey wer e al l guys her e.
Um, t her e s a gi r l meet i ng her f r i end, he went on. Her f r i end i s gi vi ng her an
i ce- cr eamcone. Oh- i t s dr i ppi ng. Huh. I t , uh, dr i pped on her . . . chest .
I ggy dr ew i n a hi ssi ng br eat h.
I t s gonna st ai n f or sur e, t he Gasman sai d. That s chocol at e.
Hmm, Fang sai d, wat chi ng t he gi r l dab at her chest wi t h a paper napki n.
What s t hat sound? t he Gasman asked.
Huh?
That sound, t he Gasman i nsi st ed. What s t hat sound? Fang.
Fang bl i nked a coupl e t i mes and l ooked down, wher e t he Gasman was yanki ng on hi s
sl eeve. Sound?
Then he hear d i t . A dr oni ng hum. A t eemi ng chor us of met al l i c voi ces.
Oh, cr ap.
Up and away! he sai d. I t s Fl yboys. They ve f ound us!

66
Today s dat e: Al r eady Too Lat e!
You ar e vi si t or number : 972, 361, 007
Bust ed- up Hol l ywood
So, f or t hose of you i n t he LA ar ea, I need t o f ess up about t he maj or wr eckage
over at t he bi g Hol l ywood si gn. A mi l l i on hopef ul s have f i xat ed on t hat si gn as a
symbol of f ut ur e movi e car eer s, and I sur e do apol ogi ze about i t bei ng dest r oyed.
But i t wasn t my f aul t .
The Gasman, I ggy, and I wer e mi ndi ng our own busi ness somewher e i n t he gr eat er LA
ar ea ( whi ch ext ends f r omTi j uana up t o Pi smo Beach) , and suddenl y, out of nowher e, a
coupl e hundr ed Fl yboys dr opped down on us. How di d t hey know wher e we wer e? I al ways
assumed t hey t r acked us ei t her by Max s chi p or by Angel s dog.
Whi ch, as you ve pr obabl y hear d, ar e wi t h us no l onger .
Page 49
So how d t hey know wher e t o f i nd us?
Unl ess one of us t hr ee i s t el l i ng t hem?
Whi ch i s i mpossi bl e, of cour se.
Anyway, l i ke I t ol d you bef or e, Max saw t housands of Fl yboys back at t he School ,
hangi ng i n r ows, char gi ng up. So t oday t hey l et a bunch of emgo f or a t est - dr i ve.
I have t o t el l you peopl e, t hose t hi ngs ar e f ast . They r e st r ong. They can go f or a
l ong t i me wi t hout st oppi ng.
But smar t ? Not so much.
Gaz, I ggy, and I shot up, f ast , f r omwher e we d been i nnocent l y hangi ng out . We r e
al ways bet t er of f i n t he ai r . Of cour se j aws dr opped, eyes popped, smal l chi l dr en
scr eamed, et c. , when we suddenl y whi pped out wi ngs and t ook f l i ght . I guess we r e
unusual even f or LA.
The t hr ee of us agai nst a coupl e hundr ed Fl yboys? I don t t hi nk so. Sur e, maybe
si xt y, or even ei ght y, no pr obl em. But not t wo hundr ed. Not even i f Max wer e t her e.
Wel l , okay, maybe i f Max wer e t her e. Maybe t he t wo hundr ed. But she wasn t t her e.
Anyway, Gaz, I ggy, and I i nst i nct i vel y i mpl ement ed a t r i ed- and- t r ue pl an of
act i on, Pl an Del t a, whi ch we ve used any number of t i mes and have down t o an ar t .
Basi cal l y i t means r un l i ke hel l . Or r at her , f l y l i ke hel l .
We f l ew. We zi pped out of t her e l i ke l i ght ni ng. The Fl yboys don t seemt o have
al t i t ude pr obl ems- t hey f ol l owed us easi l y up i nt o 747 cr ui si ng al t i t ude, wher e even
I was get t i ng a l i t t l e shor t of br eat h. Li ke t he Er aser s, t hey r e not t oo ni mbl e,
but t hey r e wi cked f ast and scar i l y st r ong.
One of I ggy s newest expl osi ves t ook out about f i f t y of t hem, and sor r y t o al l
t hose f ol ks shower ed by bi t s of Fl yboy met al and f l esh mat r i x down at t hat MTV par t y
on t he beach. The r est of t hemt or e af t er us, and we coul dn t out r un t hem.
Then I saw t he Hol l ywood Hi l l s. We f l ew r i ght f or t he si gn and, at t he ver y, ver y
l ast second, scr eamed i nt o a di r ect ver t i cal cl i mb. I mean, my bel t buckl e scr aped
one of t he l et t er s. But t he t hr ee of us made i t , shoot i ng st r ai ght up l i ke r ocket s.
The Fl yboys wer e not so f or t unat e.
One af t er anot her , t hey pl owed r i ght i nt o t he si gn, set t i ng of f el ect r i cal char ges
t hat shor t ed t hemout and made qui t e a f ew of t hemexpl ode l i ke met al l i c, f ur r y
popcor n. And i f you t hi nk t hat s a gr oss descr i pt i on, be gl ad you wer en t t her e,
bei ng pel t ed by t he l i t t l e pi eces. I t hi nk onl y about si x or seven of t hemmanaged
t o avoi d t he car nage, and I have no i dea what happened t o t hem.
Af t er we d bust ed our si des l aughi ng, we bl ew out of t her e, and now we r e hi di ng.
Agai n.
Us: r oughl y 200. Har d t o t el l wi t h al l t he par t s f l yi ng.
Them: 0
Take t hat , you whi t ecoat schmucks. Now you owe Cal i f or ni a a new Hol l ywood si gn.
- Fang, somewher e i n t he West

67
Post a Comment on Fang s Bl og
Bust ed- up Hol l ywood
108 comment s
Kewl dude 326 sai d. . .
O man Fang t hat s so awesome, i mean when u guys popped al l t he f l yboys. i woul d a
been bust i n my gut 2. Keep f l yi n, man.
San Di ego
11: 51 AM
Sugar gr r l sai d. . .
Dear Fang,
I mso gl ad your al r i ght . I hat e t hose f l yboys and hope t hey al l cr ash and bur n.
I f u need a pl ace t o st ay i n Roanoke, Vi r gi ni a, j ust e- mai l me.
12: 14 PM
Heat her sai d. . .
We shoul d al l make posses and sear ch ever ywher e f or l abs and School s and st uf f !
Ther e ar e mi l l i ons and mi l l i ons of ki ds i n t he wor l d, and we can f i x what t he
Page 50
gr own- ups have pol l ut ed and dest r oyed! Landf i l l s and oi l sl i cks and endanger ed
speci es and wi pi ng out f or est s and dr i vi ng gas hogs and not car i ng about t he
envi r onment and not car i ng about ani mal s! Thei r t i me of dest r oyi ng ever yt hi ng i s
over ! I t s t i me f or Gr een Ki ds t o uni t e!
Heat her Schmi dt
Pr esi dent , Gr eenKi dsf or aGr eener Pl anet . or g
12: 57 PM
St r eet f i ght r sai d. . .
Us ki dz got 2 t ake over ! De gr oneups hav r ecked ever yt hi ng! Der e dest r oyi n r whol e
pl anet ! De ki dz shul d r un ever yt hi ng! Dey want us 2 b qui et ! We won t b qui et no
mor e!
Br ookl yn
1: 20 PM
Chen Wei sai d. . .
Fang, I was wonder i ng: do u have a gi r l f r i end?
Hong Kong
P. S. I am15 year s ol d but l ook younger .
2: 40 PM
Car l os sai d. . .
I say we bur n al l t he sci ence l abs! Make al l t he gr own- ups i nt o sl aves!
Texas
3: 07 PM
Anonymous sai d. . .
Car l os, no, t hat s st upi d. We need sci ence. Sci ence i sn t bad by i t sel f . I t s j ust
bad when bad peopl e use i t t o do bad t hi ngs. We can do good t hi ngs wi t h sci ence.
Li ke f eed t he wor l d. I don t want t o make al l gr own- ups sl aves. My par ent s ar e
gr own- ups, but t hey r e al l r i ght .
Concer ned Fut ur e Sci ent i st
Loui si ana
4: 21 PM
Adi de sai d. . .
I amaf r ai d t he gr own- ups ar e goi ng t o dest r oy our pl anet . I want t hemt o st op. I
wi sh t hey woul d use sci ence t o make bet t er cr ops and make mor e r ai n. I nst ead of
bombs, t hey shoul d make mor e school books f or chi l dr en.
Uganda
4: 26 PM
cobr a sai d. . .
Fang, i t hi nk i saw u guyz f l yi n u wuz over my uncl es del i i n Li ncol n Par k.
Chi cago
5: 27 PM
Di t a sai d. . .
I can t bel i eve you and Max spl i t up! You guys shoul d st i ck t oget her ! Now I meven
mor e wor r i ed about al l of you! Be ext r a car ef ul !
Mumbai
6: 08 PM
Sean sai d. . .
Fang, I want t o be a bi r d ki d. I don t car e what i t t akes. I woul d go t hr ough
anyt hi ng t o be abl e t o f l y and be wi t h t he f l ock. Tel l me wher e t o meet you. I want
t o j oi n you t oday.
Manchest er , Engl and
6: 35 PM
Sue P sai d. . .
I want t o j oi n t oo! I woul d l ove t o have wi ngs but t hi nk i t s t oo l at e f or me. I t
woul d hur t . But I wi l l f i ght f or you on t he gr ound! J ust t el l me wher e and when!
Pal mBeach
6: 38 PM
Fang t ur ned of f t he comput er af t er wadi ng t hr ough t housands of messages l i ke
t hese. Max di dn t t hi nk t he bl og coul d hel p, but he was sur e i t coul d. He bet he
Page 51
coul d r ai se an ar my of a hundr ed t housand. . . or di nar y ki ds, who mi ght be br ave and
commi t t ed, but who woul d have zer o f i ght i ng ski l l s and woul d qui ckl y be sl aught er ed.
He si ghed and l ay back, r est i ng hi s head on one ar m. Thi s l eader st uf f sucked.

68
My mi ni f l ock was doi ng al l r i ght , t hanks t o Angel . For f ut ur e r ef er ence, her e ar e
some t hi ngs you can do i f you r e a si x- year - ol d genet i c anomal y wi t h t he abi l i t y t o
cont r ol ot her peopl e s mi nds:
1) Get busi ness- cl ass t i cket s f or your sel f and t hr ee ot her genet i c anomal i es, pl us
a dog, on Br i t i sh Ai r ways.
2) Convi nce ai r por t secur i t y t hat your t al ki ng Scot t i e i s a ser vi ce dog and
t her ef or e al l owed ever ywher e, i ncl udi ng t he l adi es r oom, whi ch f r ankl y I was not
t hr i l l ed about .
3) Make peopl e not r eal l y not i ce t he hul ki ng, but t - ugl y, damaged Er aser l opi ng at
your si de.
4) Once on boar d, hel p peopl e t hi nk i t s nor mal f or a dog t o get hi s own seat and
meal s.
5) Ar r ange f or us t o each have t hr ee meal s at a t i me. Fi r st - cl ass meal s, not t hat
cr ap t hey ser ve t o t he poor schmucks i n Economy.
Tot al ! I whi sper ed. Peopl e have t o pass you t o get t o t he bat hr oom. Qui t
gr owl i ng.
Sor r y, he mut t er ed. They r e get t i ng t oo cl ose t o my st eak. Speaki ng of whi ch,
coul d you cut i t i nt o l i t t l e pi eces?
I l eaned over and qui ckl y cut up t he st eak on Tot al s t r ay. I saw Angel gr i nni ng
at me, and I coul dn t hel p gr i nni ng back. Yes, my f l ock had been spl i t apar t : Hal f
of my f ami l y was AWOL. We wer e homel ess and on t he r un, as per usual . We wer e goi ng
t o a st r ange pl ace wi t h no i dea of what t o do once we got t her e. And we wer e t r apped
i n a bi g sar di ne can wi t h a bunch of st r anger s who I was pr ayi ng wer en t Er aser s or
whi t ecoat s.
And yet .
Ni ce chai r s, Ar i sai d, pat t i ng t he ar ms wi t h hi s cl awed, over si ze paws.
Thi s i s ki nd of f un, sai d Angel . She gave a l i t t l e bounce i n her seat and
st ar t ed f l i cki ng t hr ough her movi es on demand.
Max? Nudge whi sper ed f r omacr oss t he ai sl e. Do you t hi nk t hese peopl e ar e
okay? She nodded back at t he ot her passenger s.
I hope so, I sai d, keepi ng my voi ce down. But I mnot posi t i ve. I woul dn t put
i t past t hemf or t hi s al l t o be a set up, and we r e sur r ounded by whi t ecoat s who ar e
goi ng t o t ur n on us. But Angel hasn t pi cked up anyt hi ng, l i ke, no evi l i nt ent
comi ng f r omanyone on t he pl ane. So I mhopi ng i t s okay.
I ve never been on a pl ane, Nudge sai d.
None of us have. I t s ki nd of wei r d, huh?
Yeah. I t s r eal l y comf or t abl e. These chai r s t ur n i nt o beds, you know? And t he
l i t t l e TV and t he magazi nes and t he f ood and peopl e get t i ng you st uf f .
I nodded. We wer e pr et t y dang pamper ed. I mean, compar ed wi t h our usual gl amor ous
l i f e of sl eepi ng i n subway t unnel s and eat i ng out of t r ash cans.
But i t seems wei r d t o be up i n t he ai r and not . . . out si de, you know? And I mi ss-
She st opped, bi t i ng her l i p.
Me t oo, I sai d qui et l y. But I msur e t hey r e f i ne. And I msur e we l l see t hem
agai n soon. Because I was goi ng t o t r ack t hemdown l i ke dogs af t er my mi ssi on was
over . I was gonna r ag on Fang about t hi s f or t he r est of hi s l i f e. He coul dn t get
r i d of me t hat easi l y.
I hope not hi ng goes wr ong wi t h t hi s pl ane, Nudge whi sper ed. I t seems ki nd
of . . . unnat ur al f or a machi ne t o be, l i ke, up i n t he ai r . I don t get how i t s
st ayi ng up.
I t s got honki ng bi g engi nes on i t , I sai d, deci si vel y cl ar i f yi ng t he si t uat i on
f or her i n my l eader l y way. But I t el l you what - i f somet hi ng happens t o t hi s pl ane,
t he f our of us wi l l be t he ones who make i t .
Nudge s f ace cl ear ed. Oh, yeah. I di dn t t hi nk of t hat .
Now, r est up bef or e our Br i t i sh i nvasi on.

69
Page 52
Cushy seven- hour r espi t e asi de, i t was t i me t o get down t o busi ness once we l anded
at London s Heat hr ow Ai r por t . We had gone t he whol e f l i ght wi t hout anyone t ur ni ng
i nt o an Er aser and at t acki ng us, and t he pl ane hadn t dr opped out of t he sky l i ke a
l ead wei ght , so i t was an excel l ent st ar t .
For a f ew moment s af t er we got of f , I paused, hopi ng t hat maybe t he Voi ce woul d
cut me a br eak and gi ve cl ear and f ol l owabl e i nst r uct i ons.
But no. The Voi ce was MI A, and we wer e on our own.
Whi ch was f i ne. I d got t en us al l t hi s f ar . The Voi ce was a r ecent phenomenon, and
as f ar as I was concer ned, i t coul d st ay gone.
Okay, I sai d, cl appi ng my hands. My mi ni f l ock gat her ed ar ound me. The f i r st
t hi ng we shoul d do i s f i nd an I nt er net caf é , get on t he Web, and Googl e I t ex i n
Engl and. Even i f we don t f i nd t hemby name, we l l pr obabl y see ot her l i nks t hat can
hel p us.
Whoa, whoa, hol d t he phone, sai d Tot al . We r e i n London. Ar e you t el l i ng me
we r e not goi ng t o go see t he Cr own J ewel s?
And t he Tower of London? Angel added.
Ooh, l ook- Madame Tussauds! Nudge sai d, poi nt i ng at a post er on a ki osk. We ve
got t o go t her e!
Once agai n I was nonpl ussed by my f l ock s abi l i t y t o compl et el y put asi de t he f act
t hat we wer e f i ght i ng f or our l i ves. For t he l i ves of t he ent i r e wor l d.
Fr owni ng, I pr essed on. I t ex pr obabl y has i t s mai n of f i ces i n t he subur bs, not
r i ght i n t he ci t y.
Bucki nghamPal ace, Ar i st ar t l ed me by sayi ng. Wi t h t he guys i n t he f unny f ur
hat s.
Yeah, yeah, Bucki nghamPal ace! Nudge agr eed wi t hout l ooki ng at hi m.
I dr ew i n a br eat h, r eady t o st ar t i ssui ng commands.
You know, when you r e r i ght , t hat s al l you get t o be, sai d t he Voi ce.
What t he heck does t hat mean? I asked, i r r i t at ed.
Bucki nghamPal ace, Nudge expl ai ned. Wher e t he queen l i ves. And Mr . Queen.
No, no, not you, I mut t er ed. I l eaned agai nst a wal l and cl osed my eyes f or a
second. You wanna expl ai n t hat ? I t hought . Or i s t hat one of t hose kung f u koans I m
supposed t o medi t at e on at t he t op of a mount ai n? Ommm.
Max? Angel asked. Do you have a headache? She sounded wor r i ed.
No, I mokay, I sai d. Gi mme a mi nut e. And keep an eye out .
My f l ock wai t ed pat i ent l y, unl i ke me. I was r eady t o r ake my f i nger nai l s down t he
wal l .
Yes, you shoul d pur sue your mi ssi on, sai d t he Voi ce, mi r acul ousl y answer i ng me.
But you haven t l ear ned how t o bal ance your l eader shi p. You have t o l ead, but you
must al so l i st en.
And j ust l et t hemdo what ever t hey want ? I demanded si l ent l y.
Max, t hey r e chi l dr en. They r e j ust al ong f or t he r i de. A st r ong l eader can bend
somet i mes.
I opened my eyes. Fi ne. We l l t ake a t our , hi t t he hot spot s. Angel , get us on
one of t hose doubl e- decker bus t our t hi ngs.
Okay! she agr eed happi l y, whi l e Nudge punched t he ai r . We headed f or t he Gr ound
Tr anspor t at i on ar ea.
I want t o r i de on t op! Tot al sai d, t r ot t i ng at Angel s si de. But i n Max s
j acket , cause i t s col d.
Oh, yay, I sai d so no one coul d hear me. You r e wr ong, Voi ce, I t hought . They r e
ki ds, but t hey r e not j ust al ong f or t he r i de. I need ever y one of t hemi f I mgoi ng
t o succeed.

70
Those ar en t t he r eal j ewel s. I was cer t ai n of i t . No way woul d t hey j ust have
t he r eal Cr own J ewel s of Engl and hangi ng out i n a gl ass case wher e anyone coul d
knock i t over .
They r e so beaut i f ul , Nudge br eat hed, l eani ng as cl ose as she coul d t o t hem.
The I mper i al St at e Cr own. Gol l y. I woul d l ove t o have a cr own l i ke t hat .
And I was so sur e she woul d get her wi sh, because bi zar r e sci ence exper i ment s so
of t en become cr owned heads of st at e. J eez.
Get a l oad of t he scept er , Tot al whi sper ed. How do you l i ke t hat r ock?
I t says t hey r e r eal , sai d Angel , poi nt i ng t o a pl acar d. That s t he r eal
Cul l i nan di amond. I l i ke t he Or b.
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What , and t he queen j ust comes and get s t hemwhen she s goi ng t o Par l i ament ? I
scof f ed. I t ur ned t o Ar i . What does t hat ot her si gn say? On your si de.
Ar i l ooked at me, and f or j ust a second he was al most r ecogni zabl e as t he l i t t l e
boy who used t o f ol l ow me ar ound so l ong ago. Hi s f ace f l ushed, hi ghl i ght i ng t he
scar s t hat had pr et t y much heal ed over . Don t know, he sai d, t ur ni ng away. Can t
r ead.
Let s go t o Madame Tussauds, sai d Tot al . We must !
I don t know who any of t hese f amous peopl e ar e, sai d Angel , once we wer e
i nsi de Tussauds.
We wer e movi ng ar ound a r oomf ul l of wax cel ebr i t i es, and f r ankl y, t he onl y way I
woul d have been mor e uncomf or t abl e was i f I had r ocks i n my shoes. For t hose of us
who gr ew up bei ng subj ect ed t o evi l sci ent i st s t est s, wal ki ng ar ound l i f el i ke
f i gur i nes who coul d l eap out at us at any second was t ot al l y unner vi ng.
I was wat chi ng t he f i gur es l i ke a hawk ( get i t ? l i l f l ock humor f or ya t her e) ,
wai t i ng f or someone s eyes t o move, someone s chest t o r i se and f al l wi t h br eat hi ng.
So f ar , none of t hemhad budged. Whi ch di dn t mean none of t hemwoul d.
Me nei t her , sai d Nudge, soundi ng di sappoi nt ed.
Me nei t her , sai d Ar i . Next t o al l of t hese smoot h wax f i gur es, hi s r ough
f eat ur es and voi ce st ood out l i ke a br i ck i n a j ewel r y case.
Um, I t hi nk t hi s one i s Br ad Pi t t , I sai d, poi nt i ng. Who knew he was t hi s
t al l ?
Who s Br ad Pi t t ? Angel asked.
Tot al t sked and scr at ched behi nd one ear wi t h a hi nd l eg. Onl y a wor l d- f amous
movi e st ar , he sai d. Read a paper somet i mes, wi l l you?
I l et out a br eat h. I msor r y, guys. I mt r yi ng t o get on boar d wi t h t he whol e
si ght seei ng t hi ng, but t hi s pl ace gi ves me t he wi l l i es.
I s t hat t he t echni cal t er m? asked Tot al . The wi l l i es?
Yes, I sai d. Anyway, one of t hese sucker s i s goi ng t o move, and t hen I mgoi ng
t o t ake t he whol e r oomout . I have t o get out of her e.
Oh, t hank God, sai d Nudge. I hat e t hi s pl ace.
Me t oo, sai d Angel .
Tot al shook hi s head, l ooki ng di sgust ed. You peopl e. Thi s i s moder n cul t ur e.

71
Next up, t he I t ex Cor por at i on. The maj or i ndust r i al gi ant t hat seemed t o be behi nd
al l t he r ecombi nant - DNA exper i ment s; as wel l as t he Re- Evol ut i on Pl an, al so known as
t he By- Hal f Pl an; and who knew how many ot her l unat i c pl ans of mass dest r uct i on and
mayhem.
Basi cal l y, t he l ast pl ace any of us woul d ever , ever want t o go vol unt ar i l y.
The pl ace we had t o go.
Thei r of f i ce was i n. . .
Thr eadgi l l - on- Thames? Nudge r ead car ef ul l y.
I t sounds l i ke a t weed t heme par k, sai d Angel .
I t s pr onounced Tems, Tot al sai d, l i cki ng one paw. Can I have anot her pot at o
chi p?
I passed hi ma newspaper cone f ul l of hot f r i ed f i sh and f r ench f r i es. Those wacky
Br i t s cal l ed f r i es chi ps. And pot at o chi ps wer e cr i sps. And cooki es wer e
bi scui t s. I had no i dea what r eal bi scui t s wer e cal l ed. Wangdoodl es?
And t he vi negar ? Tot al asked.
I spr i nkl ed vi negar on i t f or hi m, t hen l ooked at t he map agai n. The I nt er net
caf é s we d f ound wer e f or peopl e wi t h t hei r own comput er s. Si nce Fang had t aken
our comput er , we d had t o go t o a l i br ar y.
Of cour se, we d f ound t hat I t ex was ever ywher e, wi t h br anches i n f our t een ci t i es
t hr oughout t he Uni t ed Ki ngdom. But t he mai n of f i ce seemed t o be about a
t hi r t y- mi nut e f l i ght f r omLondon, west - sout hwest .
I l i ke f i sh and chi ps, Ar i sai d. They r e yummy.
Uh- huh, I sai d di st r act edl y, t r aci ng a l i ne on t he map.
I st i l l coul dn t bel i eve I had t o go ki l l t he dr agon wi t hout Fang by my si de. He
had abandoned me, Nudge, and Angel . Was he so pi ssed about Ar i t hat he di dn t car e
i f we l i ved or di ed? Di d he t hi nk hi s bl og was r eal l y goi ng t o sol ve ever yt hi ng?
I t s not l i ke a bunch of angr y ki ds wi t h pi t chf or ks and t or ches was goi ng t o end
I t ex s r ei gn of t er r or .
The wor d t er r or suddenl y made me t hi nk about when Gazzy had t ol d t hose FBI guys
Page 54
hi s name was Capt ai n Ter or . My eyes wer e hot and i t chy i n a f l ash, and I had t r oubl e
swal l owi ng. Gazzy. I ggy. I mi ssed t hemso much. I d had dr eams about t hemal l ni ght
and woke up convi nced somet hi ng bad woul d happen t o t hemand I woul dn t be abl e t o
hel p.
I was goi ng t o ki l l Fang. That was t ot al l y on my l i st , r i ght af t er save t he
wor l d.
J er k. Cr et i n. Oh, God. He was par t of me; he was i n my bl ood. My bl ood was i n hi m,
l i t er al l y. How coul d he have done t hi s?
I gl anced over at wher e Ar i was dr awi ng t he l ast of hi s f r ench f r i es t hr ough a
mound of ket chup, hi s t oo- l ar ge hand maki ng i t l ook l i ke a t oot hpi ck. I d been
wat chi ng hi mcar ef ul l y, and so f ar he seemed l oyal , si ncer e, not act i ng
suspi ci ousl y. But what i f I r eal l y had made my wor st mi st ake?
I know what you r e t hi nki ng: Of cour se you di dn t , Max! I t was Fang! He made t he
mi st ake!
And yes, we al l know t hat my maki ng a mi st ake i s ver y, ver y r ar e. Exceedi ngl y
r ar e.
St i l l .
I was goi ng t o keep an eye on Ar i .
Max? Nudge was l ooki ng at me. Ear t h t o Max.
Huh? What ?
We r e goi ng t o f l y t her e, r i ght ? Nudge asked, poi nt i ng t o Thr eadgi l l - on- Thames
on t he map. Li ke, f l y f l y, not pl ane f l y, r i ght ?
Ri ght . I gl anced out t he wi ndow. We l l go as soon as t he sun set s. I n t he
meant i me, anyone want mor e t ea?
Yeah, I l l have some, sai d Tot al . Of cour se.

72
Oh, l ovel y, I br eat hed, peer i ng t hr ough a t al l bank of hedges. Geez, t hey r e
not even pr et endi ng t o gussy t hi s pl ace up, ar e t hey?
I t l ooks so depr essi ng, sai d Nudge sof t l y. I woul d hat e t o wor k t her e.
You t hi nk? I sai d. I woul d hat e t o under go cr uel and unusual sci ent i f i c
exper i ment at i on t her e. I t l ooks l i ke t he ki nd of f or bi ddi ng, t wi st ed pl ace wher e
evi l sci ent i st s woul d do t ot al l y unt hi nkabl e, gr uesome exper i ment s. Li ke gr af t ot her
speci es DNA i nt o i nnocent i nf ant s.
For exampl e, sai d Nudge.
What ar e we gonna do her e? Ar i asked. The r est of us wer e so sl ender and l i t he,
t hanks t o our bi r dl i ke bones, t hat Ar i seemed especi al l y hul ki ng and cl unky i n
compar i son. Now he l oomed over us i n t he dar k as we t ook our f i r st l ook at t he I t ex
Br i t i sh headquar t er s.
Fi t t i ngl y, t he bui l di ng used t o be a pr i son. And boy, had t he Br i t s cor ner ed t he
mar ket on dank and gl oomy. I t ex headquar t er s had an unmi st akabl e eau de pr i son about
i t - l oomi ng, bl ockl i ke r ect angul ar bui l di ngs made of di r t y br own br i ck.
I f t he l eader of I t ex i s r eadi ng t hi s r i ght now, I have t wo wor ds f or you:
seasonal pl ant i ngs.
The ent i r e t hi ng was sur r ounded by an el ect r i f i ed chai n- l i nk f ence at l east t wel ve
f eet hi gh, t opped wi t h r azor wi r e, i n case get t i ng r epeat edl y shocked wi t h f i ve
t housand vol t s wasn t enough of a det er r ent . And okay, i f you r e t ot al l y nut s, maybe
i t woul dn t be.
Of cour se, we wer e j ust goi ng t o f l y over i t anyway.
I hear d Angel swal l ow i n t he qui et ni ght and l ooked down at her . Her f ace was
unusual l y pal e, her eyes wi de.
What s up? I asked her , goi ng on al er t .
She swal l owed agai n and r eached f or my hand. I squeezed her s and knel t down t o her
l evel .
I can f eel t hought s and st uf f comi ng f r omi nsi de, she sai d br okenl y. Fr omt he
whi t ecoat s and al so, l i ke, mi nds wi t hout bodi es.
Br ai ns on a St i ck, I t hought .
They r e t hi nki ng awf ul st uf f , Angel went on. They r e r eal l y bad. Li ke, evi l .
They want t o do t hei r pl an and t hey don t car e what t hey have t o do t o make i t
happen. They don t mi nd ki l l i ng peopl e. Or ani mal s.
Or any combi nat i on t her eof , I t hought .
How about ot her bi r d ki ds? I asked. Ot her r ecombi nant l i f e- f or ms, Er aser s?
She shook her head, her cur l s shi ni ng i n t he moonl i ght . They r e al l dead. They
Page 55
ki l l ed t hemal l .

73
So of cour se we had t o get i n t her e! I mean, why woul d we pass up a chance t o
br eak i nt o a pl ace wher e del usi onal mass mur der er s wer e t ar get i ng cr eat ur es j ust
l i ke us? What woul d be t he f un of avoi di ng t hat si t uat i on?
Do we r eal l y have t o go i n t her e? Nudge asked. Cause, I mean, i f we don t
act ual l y have t o, t hen I d r at her not . I d r at her ki ck back somewher e.
I smi l ed at her and t r i ed t o smoot h her unr ul y br own hai r . You and me bot h, ki d.
But I have t hi s whol e savi ng- t he- wor l d gi g, and I ki nd of have t o do t hi s. You wi t h
me?
She nodded, not l ooki ng happy, t hen put a f i er ce expr essi on on. I mr eady. Let s
bust t hi s pl ace up!
Me t oo! sai d Angel . Those peopl e ar e r eal l y evi l . They shoul dn t be al l owed t o
hur t anyone el se. We have t o f i x i t so t hey can t .
We have t o end t hi s now, her e! Ar i sai d.
That s r i ght ! I sai d, hol di ng my f i st out t o t ap, l i ke we di d at bedt i me. We r e
gonna r ai n f i r e on t hi s pl ace! When we r e done, t her e l l j ust be a gr easy spot !
Remember t he Hydr a, Max?
I al most j umped. Woul d I ever get used t o an uni nvi t ed Voi ce i nsi de my head? My
guess at t hi s poi nt was no.
Hydr a, Hydr a, I t hought . Sounds l i ke a. . . spr i nkl er ?
No. The Ler naean Hydr a, one of t he l abor s of Her acl es. Ever y t i me Her acl es cut of f
a head, t wo gr ew back i n i t s pl ace.
Oh. That . Yeah, I saw a car t oon about i t once. What about i t ?
Thi nk i t t hr ough, Max, sai d t he Voi ce. I t l l come t o you.
I f r owned suspi ci ousl y. I s t hi s one of t hose met aphor t hi ngs? Woul d i t ki l l you t o
j ust come out and t el l me?
Si l ence.
Of cour se.
Max? Angel asked.
I hel d up a f i nger . One sec. Voi ce i mpar t i ng unnecessar y knowl edge.
Tot al f l opped down i n t he gr ass and r est ed hi s head on hi s f r ont paws.
Okay. Hydr a, I t hought . I r emember ed t he car t oon I had seen, wher e a bi g muscul ar
mouse dr essed i n a l i on ski n had been t r yi ng t o l op cat l i ke heads of f t hi s gi ant
dr agon t hi ng.
But I wasn t get t i ng t he connect i on.
Oh, wai t . A head got cut of f , and t wo gr ew back i n i t s pl ace.
We wer e pl anni ng t o dest r oy t hi s I t ex headquar t er s. Di d t hat mean i f we dest r oyed
i t , t wo woul d gr ow back i n i t s pl ace? Or , l i ke, t wo ot her s woul d become mor e
power f ul ? Hmm.
The Hydr a i t sel f must be ki l l ed, Max. The whol e t hi ng at once. Thi s i s j ust one
head. Fi nd t he body and ki l l i t .
I t hought . I r emember ed t he map I had gl i mpsed t hr ough an open door back at t he
School , when Ar i had been t aki ng me ar ound. I t was a map of t he wor l d. Al most ever y
count r y had had an I t ex symbol somewher e on i t , and many had had smal l er st ar s as
wel l .
Because I msmar t er t han t he aver age r ecombi nant bear , I r eal i zed t hat we needed
t o check out some of t he ot her I t ex br anches, i n ot her count r i es, t o f i nd t he hear t
of t he beast . Thanks a l ot , Voi ce, I t hought a l i t t l e sar cast i cal l y, t o no r epl y.
Wi l l you make up your mi nd about j ust wher e t he heck we r e supposed t o be goi ng?
God, I was so t i r ed. A wor l d saver s wor k i s never done.
I hunker ed down next t o t he hedge and mot i oned ever yone cl oser .
Guys, I do bel i eve t hat Fr ance i s cal l i ng our names.
Nudge f r owned. They r e yel l i ng f or f l yi ng bi r d ki ds?
Yes. I st ood up and hel d out my ar ms f or Tot al . He j umped up, and I zi pped hi m
i nt o my j acket . Does anyone know any Fr ench?
I know how t o ask f or a spunky Chabl i s, sai d Tot al , hi s voi ce somewhat muf f l ed.
I unf ol ded my wi ngs and st r et ched t hemout , r eady t o t ake of f .
I know some Spani sh, sai d Nudge. Cer r ado and abi er t o. St uf f l i ke t hat .
That l l be good i n Spai n. I n Fr ance, I guess we l l f i nd out i f Angel can r ead
mi nds i n Fr ench.
Angel shook out her wi ngs, l ooki ng i nt r i gued. I don t know, she sai d. But you
Page 56
know what ? I want some past r y whi l e we r e t her e.
Ooh, I second t hat emot i on, sai d Tot al .
I st i f l ed a r esponse- had Madame Tussauds t aught t hemnot hi ng?- and t ook of f i nt o
t he chi l l y ni ght , ki nd of f eel i ng l i ke Har r y Pot t er escapi ng f r omt he Dur sl eys.
Except i n our wor l d, Dur sl eys wer e ever ywher e, wer e heavi l y f unded, and had a st r ong
sci ent i f i c bent .

74
Los Angel es, gangbanger s, huh!
I f t hey r e not t he Cr i ps or t he Bl oods, does t hat mean t hey r e t he Cr uds? I ggy
asked i n al l ser i ousness.
Shh! Fang t ol d hi m. Keep i t down! Don t t hr ow gas on t hi s par t i cul ar f i r e,
okay?
Okay, sai d I ggy, but Gazzy chuckl ed and sl apped hi ma hi gh f i ve.
Besi des, t hey r e t he Ghost s, Fang r emi nded hi m. They have i t on al l t hei r
j acket s.
Oh, I must have mi ssed t hat , I ggy sai d sar cast i cal l y, and Fang ment al l y smacked
hi s f or ehead.
Yo, someone sai d, and he spun t o see a guy named Keez wal ki ng t owar d t hem. That
mor ni ng t hey d been l yi ng l ow i n an empt y l ot i n east LA, and t hey d suddenl y been
sur r ounded by a bi g gang. Li t er al l y a st r eet gang: t he Ghost s. They d al l t ensed t o
f i ght , but one of t he gang, Keez, had r ecogni zed Fang, I ggy, and Gazzy f r omt he
news. He d al so been r eadi ng Fang s bl og. The gang cont r ol l ed t hi s par t of t he ci t y,
and Keez had of f er ed t hema saf e house.
Now he nodded at Fang. Thi s way, dude.
We r e f amous, I ggy whi sper ed, so l ow t hat Fang coul d bar el y hear hi m.
So s swi ne f l u, Fang whi sper ed back.
They f ol l owed Keez t o an abandoned bui l di ng i n t he mi ddl e of a scar y, decr epi t
bl ock. Peopl e eyed t hemcur i ousl y, but wi t h a si mpl e hand mot i on f r omKeez, t hey
l ooked away.
I want a Ghost s j acket , t he Gasman whi sper ed t o Fang. Fang f el t t he Gasman s
hand st ar t t o r each f or hi s, t hen dr op. Si nce t hey d spl i t , t he Gasman had been
t r yi ng t o be super t ough. Fang had t o r emi nd hi msel f t hat he was j ust a l i t t l e ki d.
Max, t hough she was about t he t oughest per son Fang had ever met , was wei r dl y good
wi t h al l t he momst uf f , put t i ng bandages on, cal mi ng t he ki ds down when t hey had bad
dr eams. He d never r eal i zed how much ext r a wor k t hat t ook.
As t hey f ol l owed Keez up some br oken br ownst one st eps, Fang r eached out and t ook
t he Gasman s hand. The ki d l ooked up at hi m, sur pr i sed, but t hen Fang f el t t he smal l
hand t i ght en ar ound hi s. So he d done t he r i ght t hi ng.
Two bi g guys wer e st andi ng guar d at t he f r ont door , but a nod f r omKeez made t hem
st ep asi de. I nsi de i t was a l ot l i ke t hat bur ned- out cr ack house Max and Fang had
f ound i n DC, onl y wi t h l ess cozy char m. But i t was r el at i vel y saf e and hi dden, and
t hose wer e t wo of hi s f avor i t e t hi ngs.
Cr ash her e. Keez mot i oned t hemi nt o a shel l of a r oomt hat l ooked as i f one of
I ggy s bi gger exper i ment s had expl oded i n i t not l ong ago.
Cool . Thanks, man, Fang sai d. Then he, I ggy, and t he Gasman col l apsed on t he
f l oor . I t was t i me f or Fang t o st ep up and make a pl an.

75
Thi s i s your pl an? I ggy s voi ce hel d di sbel i ef .
Yep. Gr ab your backpack.
The Gasman di dn t say anyt hi ng, but Fang wonder ed i f he was wi shi ng he d deci ded
t o go wi t h Max. The f i r st day i t had seemed l i ke an advent ur e. Now i t was st ar t i ng
t o seemj ust . . . pai nf ul . But t her e was no way Fang was goi ng back- unt i l Max di t ched
t he cr et i n.
The of f i ces of Peopl e magazi ne wer e on about f our f l oor s of a col ossal bui l di ng i n
downt own LA. Fang was sur e t hat i f Angel wer e her e, i t woul d be no pr obl emf or t hem
t o see t he pr esi dent of t he whol e company and convi nce hi mt o publ i sh an ent i r e
speci al i ssue about I t ex and t hei r evi l ways.
But he was Fang, and he coul d wor k hi s own wi l es. He hel d up a bag of del i
sandwi ches, and t he f r ont guar d si gned t hemi n. Del i ver y el evat or s i n t he back, he
sai d i n a bor ed voi ce.
Let s t ake t he st ai r s, Gazzy whi sper ed.
Page 57
We r e goi ng t o t he t went y- sevent h f l oor , Fang whi sper ed back.
Basi cal l y, st eppi ng i nt o t he el evat or f el t l i ke vol unt eer i ng f or psychi c t r auma.
I t was smal l , encl osed, and f ul l of ot her peopl e, al l of t hembet t er dr essed and
si gni f i cant l y mor e hygi eni c t han t he bi r d ki ds.
On t he t went y- sevent h f l oor , t hey pr act i cal l y l eaped out of t he el evat or s i nt o a
desi gner r ecept i on ar ea bust l i ng wi t h peopl e. Fang hel d on t o hi s bag and appr oached
t he mai n desk.
A guy i n hi s ear l y t went i es wi t h mod r ect angul ar gl asses l ooked at t hemas t hough
t hey wer e t hr ee scr uf f y homel ess chi l dr en.
Can I hel p you?
I need t o speak t o your t op r epor t er , Fang sai d cool l y. I have a st or y wi t h
wor l dwi de i mpl i cat i ons. You pr i nt what I t el l you, and t hi s magazi ne wi l l go down i n
hi st or y.
The r ecept i on guy was uni mpr essed. Do you have an appoi nt ment ? Wi t h anyone?
Of cour se not . That woul d r equi r e a l evel of f or et hought t hat Fang hadn t mast er ed
yet . He f el t t he del i bag had been a mast er t ouch. I j ust need t o speak t o someone,
r i ght now.
The guy sneer ed. I don t t hi nk so.
I f t hey f i nd out you di dn t l et me t al k t o someone, you l l get canned so f ast
you l l f eel l i ke t una.
That was when t he guy pr essed t he but t on f or secur i t y.
Fang t apped I ggy s hand t wi ce. Let s go! Now!

76
Two bur l y secur i t y guar ds pi cked up t hei r pace as soon as t hey saw Fang, I ggy, and
Gazzy r ace t owar d t he st ai r wel l . Fang knew t hat when someone was chasi ng you, you
never got on t he el evat or , t went y- seven f l oor s up or no. They coul d l ock you bet ween
f l oor s, be wai t i ng f or you. You al ways t ook t he st ai r s.
Fang yanked t he door open, and t he t hr ee of t hemf l ung t hemsel ves downwar d, f our
st eps at a t i me. They pushed past st ar t l ed empl oyees and al most col l i ded wi t h
someone del i ver i ng sandwi ches. Behi nd t hem, t hey hear d st ai r wel l door s bei ng opened
and secur i t y guar ds yel l i ng. On one f l oor , t he door opened r i ght as t hey passed, and
Fang f el t someone t ake a swi pe at hi s j acket . He cont i nued t o l eap downwar d, keepi ng
t r ack of I ggy and t he Gasman out of t he cor ner s of hi s eyes. Unf or t unat el y, t her e
wer e no wi ndows i n t he st ai r wel l t hat t hey coul d escape t hr ough.
The st ai r s f el t endl ess and went back and f or t h so t i ght l y t hat Fang st ar t ed t o
f eel seasi ck. Keep i t t oget her , he t ol d hi msel f . Keep i t t oget her . You ve got a
l i t t l e ki d and a bl i nd guy dependi ng on you.
Okay, about t o r each bot t om! Fang al er t ed I ggy af t er endl ess mi nut es. Ei ght
mor e st eps, t hen a har d l ef t !
Got cha, sai d I ggy.
Fi nal l y t hey r eached bot t om. I f t hey coul d j ust make i t out t he f r ont door s. . .
Ther e wer e ei ght secur i t y guar ds wai t i ng at t he bot t omof t he st ai r s. Fang whi r l ed
t o head back upst ai r s, but t he door cl osest t o t hemopened, and f our mor e guar ds
st ar t ed t hunder i ng t owar d t hem. The t hr ee bi r d ki ds bol t ed i nt o t he l obby, t r yi ng t o
br eak t hr ough t he l i ne of guar ds.
Unsuccessf ul l y.
We r e l eavi ng! Fang snar l ed, but a guar d had t he back of hi s j acket and hi s bel t
l oop. He mar ched Fang t o t he bi g gl ass door s, muscl ed t hemopen, and t ossed Fang
down t he bui l di ng s f r ont st eps.
You don t wei gh not hi n ! he sai d i n sur pr i se.
Don t come back! sai d anot her guar d.
I ggy and t he Gasman l anded on t he si dewal k next t o Fang, and t hey qui ckl y
scr ambl ed t o t hei r f eet . Af t er some of t he si t uat i ons t hey d been i n, get t i ng t hr own
ont o t he si dewal k l i ke t r ash wasn t t hat bad, but i t meant t hat Fang s bi g pl an had
bombed. He dust ed of f hi s pant s, opened t he del i bag, and passed out squashed
sandwi ches as t hey made t hei r way back t o t he saf e house. WWMD? Fang wonder ed. What
woul d Max do? Besi des l et a mur der ous cr eep i nt o t hei r l i ves, t hat i s.
No go, eh? Keez was honi ng a swi t chbl ade on a spi nni ng met al wheel .
Nope.
You shoul da whooshed out t hose wi ngs, man, he sai d. I saw you guys on t he news
once. You got t hemwi cked wi ngs, r i ght ? That woul da done i t f or sur e.
Uh, I di dn t want t o r esor t t o cheap t r i cks, Fang mut t er ed. Pl us, he hadn t
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t hought of i t . Keez was r i ght . That woul d have wor ked l i ke a char m. Shoot .
On t o Pl an. . . H?

77
The pl an i s hot dogs? sai d t he Gasman, ent husi ast i cal l y wol f i ng down hi s second
one. I l i ke t hi s pl an!
Fang di d a qui ck 360, but t hi s sect i on of El Pr ado had onl y t he usual assor t ment
of deal er s, homel ess peopl e, and Ghost s. Not hi ng t oo t hr eat eni ng.
The pl an i s not hot dogs, Fang sai d, wi pi ng hi s f i nger s on hi s j eans. We r e
j ust ki l l i ng t i me t i l l t he r eal pl an f al l s i nt o pl ace. Of cour se, t her e was no r eal
pl an- yet . But Fang was t he l eader of t hi s par t i cul ar f l ock, and l eader s al ways had
t o l ook conf i dent , even when t hey wer e bl owi ng smoke. Anot her l esson he d l ear ned
f r omMax.
Al l r i ght , my man, Keez sai d t o t he hot - dog vendor , and shook hi s hand. Fang
gat her ed t hat Keez had j ust been comped about a dozen hot dogs i n r et ur n f or t he
vendor s saf et y on t hi s st r eet . I nt er est i ng.
I ggy was hal f way t hr ough hi s f our t h hot dog when he suddenl y f r oze i n mi dchew.
Fang wat ched hi s f ace al er t l y.
What ? he sai d.
Cr ud, I ggy sai d, t hr owi ng down hi s hot dog. Fl yboys.
You guys scat t er ! Fang t ol d Keez qui ckl y. We ve got t r oubl e, but t hey r e onl y
af t er us.
How do t hey keep f i ndi ng us? t he Gasman wai l ed, t hen st uf f ed t he r est of hi s hot
dog i nt o hi s mout h.
We l l st ay! Keez sai d, pul l i ng out hi s cel l phone.
No, man, you don t under - was as f ar as Fang got bef or e he hear d t he buzzi ng,
and t hen i t was t oo l at e.
Ther e wer e about ei ght y of t hem, and t hey swar med above t he r oof of a near by
bui l di ng l i ke a cl oud of wasps.
What t he heck i s t hat ? sai d Keez. Al r eady ot her Ghost s wer e pour i ng out of
bui l di ngs, r unni ng up t he st r eet .
Robot s, Fang sai d t er sel y, and unf ol ded hi s wi ngs. You guys shoul d spl i t .
He hear d a coupl e of gasps, and one Ghost sai d, Hol y Mot her .
We r e st ayi ng, sai d Keez, and he pul l ed out hi s swi t chbl ade. He waved hi s ar ms
at hi s t r oops, yel l i ng over t he i ncr easi ng noi se. Fan out !
Ei ght y Fl yboys- comi ng f r omt en o cl ock, Fang t ol d I ggy. I ggy and t he Gasman bot h
snapped out t hei r wi ngs, causi ng mor e i ndr awn br eat hs and mut t er ed excl amat i ons. On
t he gr ound, t he Ghost s can hel p. We l l do what we can f r omt he ai r .
I ggy nodded hi s under st andi ng, and t hen Keez sai d, Her e! and pr essed a l ong
cr owbar i nt o I ggy s hands. I ggy gr i nned and t hr ew hi msel f skywar d.
One of hi s wi ngs br ushed a Ghost on t he downswi ng, and t he Ghost ducked, l ooki ng
ast oni shed.
Fang j udged t hey had about f our seconds bef or e i mpact . They r e met al based, he
sai d qui ckl y. Cover ed wi t h ski n. Kni ves won t do squat . Pi pes and basebal l bat s
woul d be bet t er .
Bat s we got , sai d Keez, handi ng Fang one. And we got somet hi ng el se t oo. Fang
saw t hat t hr ee Ghost s had r un up wi t h what l ooked l i ke a bazooka, maybe f i ve f eet
l ong. Ther e was no t i me t o ask wher e t hey d got t en t hat . Fang r an a f ew st eps and
l eaped i nt o t he ai r , hopi ng t o l ead t he Fl yboys away f r omt he gang t hat had
pr ot ect ed hi m.
Hi s hear t poundi ng, bl ood r oar i ng i n hi s ear s, Fang f l ew st r ai ght at t he cl oud of
Fl yboys.

78
We wi l l dest r oy you, t he Fl yboys dr oned. You have no escape.
That was t he most i magi nat i ve, t hr eat eni ng t hi ng t he whi t ecoat s had pr ogr ammed
t hese dr oi ds t o say? Tal k about l ame, Fang mut t er ed. Mechani cal heads swi vel ed,
l aser - r ed eyes l ocked on t o hi m, and a bunch of t he r obot s spl i t away f r omt he mai n
gr oup t o f ace hi mdown.
Fang r eadi ed hi s al umi numbasebal l bat . A sudden whi ni ng, whi st l i ng sound made hi m
backpedal har d. Fi f t y f eet away, a gr ound- t o- ai r mi ssi l e f l ew di r ect l y i nt o t he mass
of Fl yboys. I t s ai mwas of f and i t expl oded t oo l at e, above t hem. But i t st i l l
bl ast ed about f i f t een met al l i c heads of f , and Fang had a moment t o hope t hat t he
Page 59
Gasman had enj oyed t he di spl ay.
Then ever yt hi ng went i nt o f i ght speed: super sl ow and super f ast at t he same t i me.
Fang r aced among t he Fl yboys and st ar t ed swi ngi ng, f eel i ng t he numbi ng shock of
hi t t i ng Fl yboy met al as har d as he coul d. Wi t hi n a mi nut e he di scover ed t hat hi t t i ng
a shoul der at a cer t ai n angl e woul d pop an ar mout of j oi nt , and hi t t i ng a head
si deways f r omone di r ect i on and t hen qui ckl y downwar d woul d of t en snap i t cl ean of f .
Wel l , not cl ean, act ual l y- i t was t ot al l y gr oss, made wor se by t he spar ks and
dangl i ng el ect r i cal wi r es he saw as t he headl ess body pl ummet ed downwar d.
Oof ! Fang l ost hi s br eat h when a Fl yboy ki cked hi mi n t he st omach. I t was
di f f er ent f r omf i ght i ng Er aser s. Er aser s wer e cl umsi er but mor e adapt abl e. Fl yboys
wer e st r onger and mor e pr eci se, but t hei r moves wer e l i mi t ed.
Fang coul dn t see t he Gasman. He caught si ght of I ggy, wi el di ng t he cr owbar l i ke a
swor d, sl ashi ng and bashi ng Fl yboys wi t h hi s l ong r each. Hi s nose was bl oody and one
eye was swol l en, but he was hol di ng hi s own. Fang hear d gunf i r e and smal l expl osi ons
on t he gr ound, and he hoped t he Gasman had got t en out of t her e.
Bam! Fang bl ocked a Fl yboy s punch, t hen swung hi s bat f ur i ousl y, l andi ng a bl ow
t o t he back of i t s head. The head made a si mul t aneous cl unki ng and squi shi ng sound,
but t he Fl yboy wasn t ser i ousl y damaged.
Fang st ar t ed t o swi ng agai n but was bl ocked by anot her Fl yboy comi ng i n f r omt he
si de. A har d, j aw- snappi ng ki ck r i ght i n Fang s ki dney made hi mgasp, and he
i nst ant l y f ol ded hi s wi ngs and dr opped l i ke a st one f or about f i f t een f eet , l ong
enough t o r ecover . Then he pour ed on t he power and shot st r ai ght up, swi ngi ng t he
bat wi t h al l hi s st r engt h, managi ng t o make t wo Fl yboys dr op. He damaged anot her so
badl y i t f l ew cr ookedl y away, smoke st r eami ng f r omi t s neck.
And j ust l i ke t hat , i t was over . The r emai ni ng f i f t een or so Fl yboys got i nt o
f or mat i on, t hen t hey spun and f l ew of f as one. Fang gl i ded t o wher e I ggy was
hover i ng, l i st eni ng f or any r emnant of sound.
S over , he t ol d I ggy. Let s go.
They f l ew down t o El Pr ado, as pol i ce car s f r omal l over t he ci t y r aced t owar d t he
ar ea.
On t he gr ound, t he st r eet was l i t t er ed wi t h br oken bi t s of Fl yboys. They f ound t he
Gasman wi t h Keez, and t hough t hey bot h l ooked beat up, t hey wer e st andi ng.
Pol i ce comi ng, Fang sai d. We got t a go.
Al l r i ght , man, sai d Keez, hol di ng out a swol l en, bl oody hand. Whew! That was
some act i on! Thi s ki d her e i s danger ous!
The Gasman puf f ed hi s chest out .
Thanks, sai d Fang. Thanks f or ever yt hi ng. Then t he t hr ee of t hemt ook of f .
Fr omabove, Fang saw t he Ghost s scat t er i ng i nt o bui l di ngs, down al l eys, i nt o car s
t hat scr eeched of f . By t he t i me t he pol i ce got t her e, al l t hat was l ef t was a
scat t er i ng of compl et el y unexpl ai nabl e chunks of met al .

79
Tot al squi r med i nsi de my j acket l i ke a gopher i n a hol e. We wer e super hi gh,
keepi ng a l ookout f or pl anes, maki ng our way acr oss Fr ance. We hadn t bot her ed wi t h
t he I t ex pl ant i n Engl and, si nce i t was j ust a si ngl e head of t he hydr a. We knew
t her e wer e about f our di f f er ent I t ex pl ant s i n Ger many, i ncl udi ng i t s wor l d
headquar t er s, and t hat s wher e we wer e headed. But t hi s l i t t l e dog was about t o make
me l ose my mi nd.
He squi r med agai n. I r esi st ed t he t empt at i on t o unzi p my j acket and l et hi m
di scover t he j oy and exci t ement of f r ee- f al l i ng. He t ook a br eat h and sni f f ed a
l i t t l e.
Her e i t comes, I t hought .
I t s l i ke you have no soul , Tot al sai d.
Tot al , we ve been over t hi s, I sai d i mpat i ent l y. We checked out t he I t ex pl ant
i n Sai nt J ean- de- Sè vr e. Tot al gr i maced at my pr onunci at i on, maki ng me want t o
smack hi m. We r e on a mi ssi on t o check out t he mai n headquar t er s, i n Ger many. Ther e
i s no I t ex pl ant i n Par i s. Thus, goi ng t o Par i s makes no sense.
No, i t s onl y t he cent er of wor l d cul t ur e, he sai d. The home of some of t he
best f ood on t he pl anet . Fashi on, ar t , ar chi t ect ur e- ah, Ver sai l l es! He sounded l i ke
he was about t o cr y.
I r ol l ed my eyes.
And yet , no I t ex pl ant , I sai d poi nt edl y.
I woul dn t mi nd seei ng Par i s, sai d Nudge. I saw t hi s gui debook back at t he
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l i br ar y. They have l i t t l e canal boat s you can t ake t our s on, and f ancy gar dens, and
t hat Loovr a museum, and pal aces, and al l ki nds of st uf f . She l ooked at me
hopef ul l y.
Tot al had t aught bot h gi r l s how t o use cr ocodi l e t ear s, and now Angel t ur ned
gr i evi ng eyes on me. I st eel ed mysel f , wai t i ng t o f eel her i nf i l t r at e my br ai n, but
she di dn t ( t hat I coul d t el l ) .
Li f e i s so shor t , Angel sai d sadl y. So shor t and so har d. The i dea of seei ng
t he Ci t y of Li ght , j ust once-
Oh, f or God s sake, I mut t er ed.
I t woul d al most make ever yt hi ng seemwor t hwhi l e, she f i ni shed.
Yes, because what s a l i f e of degr adat i on and t or t ur e compar ed wi t h a char mi ng
bi st r o on t he Champs- É l ysé es? I asked, sar casmdr i ppi ng. Tot al gr i maced
agai n.
Exact l y! Angel sai d exci t edl y. That s what I mt al ki ng about . I t al l becomes
uni mpor t ant when you r e st andi ng, l i ke, at Sacr é - Coeur !
I knew I was beat en. I f I di dn t gi ve i n, not onl y woul d I have t o l i st en t o t wo
chi l dr en, a hul ki ng di sast er , and a dog whi ni ng at me al l t he way t o Ger many, but
once we got t her e, no one woul d be abl e t o concent r at e on t he mi ssi on. Pl us, I was
expect i ng t he Voi ce t o pop i n at any second wi t h some sage f or t une- cooki e advi ce
l i ke, See what Par i s has t o of f er . Or , What s t he l esson you coul d l ear n f r omt hi s?
Or , Maybe you l l f i nd a br i ght , shi ny cl ue t o somet hi ng r i ght t her e at t he Ar c de
Tr i omphe!
I l ooked down. Far bel ow us, t he mi l l i ons of l i ght s of Par i s wer e obvi ous- i t was
t he bi ggest ci t y i n t he count r y and spar kl ed l i ke a di amond. An expensi ve,
t i me- consumi ng, no doubt poi nt l ess di amond.
I r ubbed my f or ehead wi t h one hand. Oh, al l r i ght , I mut t er ed. Fi ne. We l l
spend a coupl e hour s i n Par i s.
I t r i ed t o bl ock out t he whoops of j oy. Looki ng at Ar i , I r eal i zed he hadn t
wei ghed i n. I n gener al , he kept hi s t hought s t o hi msel f , as i f he di dn t deser ve t o
have an opi ni on. Nudge and Angel st i l l di dn t l ook at hi mor i nt er act wi t h hi m. I
al so knew t hat Par i s woul d be one of t he l ast f un t hi ngs he di d i n t hi s l i f e.
Let s f i nd somepl ace t o sl eep, I sai d, as we angl ed downwar d t hr ough t he ni ght .

80
Her e s t he wei r d t hi ng: We hadn t seen hi de nor hai r of an Er aser or a whi t ecoat
or a Fl yboy chasi ng us si nce we d spl i t f r omFang and t he ot her s. We st i l l had me,
Angel , Tot al , Ar i - al l of t he i f f act or s t hat coul d possi bl y be t r acked. And yet
t he l ast sever al days had been one gr ande vacance, as we say her e i n gay Par ee.
So what was di f f er ent ? J ust t hat Fang, Gazzy, and I ggy wer en t her e. I t was cr azy.
I wonder ed what t hey wer e doi ng, i f t hey wer e, l i ke, on a beach or par t yi ng
somewher e or what ever . Compl et el y f or get t i ng about us. Not mi ssi ng us.
Par t of me was dyi ng t o f i nd an I nt er net caf é and at l east r ead Fang s l at est
bl og ent r y. Maybe I coul d get some i dea of wher e t hey wer e and what t hey wer e doi ng.
But t he bi gger , sel f - r i ght eous par t of me r ef used t o acknowl edge my bur ni ng
cur i osi t y.
OMG! Nudge squeal ed, put t i ng a f i l my, ar t y scar f ar ound her neck. Thi s i s
f abul ous!
And so sui t abl e f or an Er aser t o gr ab and yank, t hus br eaki ng your neck, I
st r uggl ed not t o say. I nst ead I nodded unent husi ast i cal l y, hopi ng she woul d r ead
bet ween t he l i nes.
Thi s i s what I mt al ki ng about , Tot al sai d happi l y. He l eaned hi s f r ont paws on
t he mar bl e t abl e and pul l ed hi s chocol at e past r y t owar d hi m. I msi t t i ng her e, I m
eat i ng, and Angel di dn t have t o cont r ol anyone s mi nd. Thi s i s ci vi l i zat i on.
Dogs ar e al l owed i n most r est aur ant s i n Par i s, i n case you haven t pi cked up on
t hat . We wer e si t t i ng at a t i ny mar bl e- t opped t abl e out si de a caf é . Peopl e
st r eamed past us, not t ur ni ng i nt o Er aser s or what ever woul d come af t er Er aser s.
I t i s r eal l y neat , Nudge sai d, l oopi ng her scar f ar ound her neck so i t woul dn t
di p i nt o her cof f ee. How many of t hese can I have? She was on her t hi r d past r y.
I shr ugged. However many you can eat wi t hout bar f i ng. Okay, as a momI m
unconvent i onal , I admi t . Especi al l y si nce I monl y f our t een and di dn t act ual l y gi ve
bi r t h t o any of t hese guys.
I wi sh- , Angel began, t hen st opped. She pul l ed her caf é au l ai t over and
t ook a si p.
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I wi sh ever yone was her e wi t h us, I hear d i n my mi nd, and i t wasn t t he Voi ce. I
nodded at Angel . Me t oo, I t hought back.
What ar e we goi ng t o do af t er t hi s? Nudge asked. How about t he Loovr a?
I shook my head. Too encl osed, t oo much secur i t y, t oo many peopl e. Ther e i sn t
enough Val i umi n t he wor l d t o get me i n t her e.
The Ei f f el Tower i s open, and hi gh, sai d Angel .
I nodded. I t s a possi bi l i t y. I checked my wat ch. You guys have f our hour s,
t hen we have t o bug out of her e.
Nudge snapped me a sal ut e. J awohl !
Tot al st ar t ed choki ng wi t h l aught er , and Ar i and Angel bot h gr i nned.
Ever yone knows what t he Ei f f el Tower l ooks l i ke. But i n per son, i t s so much
bi gger - al l t hi s l acy st eel and i r on swoopi ng up and up i nt o t he sky. I t was so
t empt i ng t o j ust f l y t o t he t op, but i nst ead we wai t ed i n an endl ess l i ne and t ook a
cr owded el evat or t o t he t op. And you know how much I l i ke bei ng packed i nt o smal l
spaces wi t h ot her peopl e!
But once we wer e at t he t op, t he vi ew was magni f i cent . Ri ght bel ow us was t he
Sei ne Ri ver , wi t h i t s houseboat s and t our boat s. Fr omup t her e we coul d see
ever yt hi ng, al l t he maj or l andmar ks, l i ke t he Ar c de Tr i omphe and t he Louvr e museum.
Par i s st r et ched as f ar as we coul d see.
I had t o admi t , Par i s was r eal l y beaut i f ul . The bui l di ngs al l seemed so ol d and
f ancy and r eal l y pr et t y i n a non- Amer i can ki nd of way. I wi shed t he guys coul d see
i t . I hope you guys can see i t some day t oo, i f i t s st i l l st andi ng af t er t he
whi t ecoat s t r y t o dest r oy t he wor l d.
Of cour se Nudge made us shop. At l east st r eet st ands wer en t as cl aust r ophobi a
i nduci ng as encl osed st or es. Al l al ong t he Sei ne wer e l i t t l e st al l s sel l i ng books
and f l ower s, and I f el t as i f we wer e i n a movi e wi t h subt i t l es. I wai t ed wi t h
sai nt l y pat i ence as Nudge and Angel sor t ed t hr ough T- shi r t s and hat s and books i n
Fr ench t hat we coul dn t car r y, much l ess r ead.
Ar i t r i ed on a l eat her j acket - hi s ol d one was shr edded and bl oodst ai ned. The st al l
vendor l ooked at Ar i war i l y, t hen Angel di st r act ed hi mand he di dn t seemt o not i ce
Ar i anymor e.
I t s you, I sai d, wat chi ng hi mshr ug i t on. I s i t comf or t abl e?
He gr i maced. Not hi ng s comf or t abl e when you r e bui l t l i ke t hi s. He gest ur ed t o
hi s hul ki ng, over devel oped muscl es, t he l umpy wi ngs t hat di dn t f ol d i n per f ect l y,
neat l y, l i ke our s.
I st epped behi nd hi mt o smoot h out t he col l ar , and t hat s when I saw i t agai n: t he
expi r at i on dat e on t he back of hi s neck. Hi s t i me was comi ng, ver y, ver y soon.
You know what ? I was gl ad I d shown hi mPar i s.

81
You know t he ot her st r ange t hi ng about Eur ope? I t s weensy. I t was l i ke, oops, I
bl i nked, t her e goes Bel gi um! Al l of West er n Eur ope coul d f i t i nt o Amer i ca, east of
t he Mi ssi ssi ppi . Fl yi ng f r omEngl and t o Fr ance t ook about t hi r t y mi nut es. Cr ossi ng
over Fr ance t ook about si x hour s. I t had t aken us al most ei ght hour s t o cr oss Texas,
back i n Amer i ca.
Anyway. Her e s my one- not e t ake on Ger mans: They r e scr ubber s. Hoo, boy, we r e
t al ki ng a t i dy l i t t l e count r y. Fr ance? Not so much.
Okay, no one l eave t hei r socks l yi ng ar ound, I i nst r uct ed, as we dr i f t ed t o a
l andi ng out si de a t own cal l ed Lendehei m. That woul d send t hemr i ght over t he edge.
Lendehei mseemed t o have been desi gned by t he Ger many t eamat Epcot . I kept
expect i ng Bambi t o pop out f r ombehi nd a bush. Ther e was so much car ved gi nger br ead
on t he houses t hat my st omach gr owl ed.
The one mai n r oad t hr ough t own l ed uphi l l t o an i ncr edi bl e medi eval cast l e. You
guessed i t : I t ex. St i l l l or di ng i t over t he peasant s, i n t hei r way.
Thi s i s t oo cut e, sai d Tot al , hoppi ng down f r ommy ar ms. I want t o st ar t
pl ant i ng wi ndow boxes or somet hi ng.
The hi i i l l l s ar e al i i i ve, Nudge war bl ed, spr eadi ng her ar ms wi de, wi t h t he
sound of -
Okay, l i st en up, I br oke i n. The cast l e i s t hr ough t hese t r ees. Let s do a
qui ck r econ and t hen deci de what t o do next .
I set of f i nt o t he woods, pushi ng asi de t he pi ct ur esque Ger man under br ush.
Fr ankl y, I d expect ed a Ger man f or est t o be a l i t t l e t i di er t han t hi s.
Wai t , don t t el l me, Tot al sai d, t r ot t i ng af t er me. We r e gonna br eak i n, st eal
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some st uf f , br eak some st uf f , al most get caught , and t hen escape i n some danger ous,
dr amat i c way.
I set my j aw, t r yi ng t o i gnor e Nudge s gi ggl e. Maybe, I sai d t i ght l y. You got a
bet t er pl an?
He was si l ent f or a f ew moment s. Wel l , no.
I know you mi ght not bel i eve t hi s, but sl oggi ng t hr ough a f or ei gn Eur opean f or est
i n t he dead of ni ght wi t h an ex- Er aser , a t al ki ng dog, and t wo ki ds who depend on
you f or t hei r l i ves- wel l , not as much f un as you d t hi nk. But maybe t hat s j ust my
negat i vi t y t al ki ng.
Once agai n, I was f or ci bl y r emi nded of what sl ooow and har d wor k wal ki ng i s,
compar ed wi t h f l yi ng. But I di dn t want t o t ake a chance of bei ng seen, not t hi s
cl ose t o t he cast l e. For al l I knew, t hey had wat cht ower s or r adar or sear chl i ght s.
Possi bl y al l t hr ee.
But we f i nal l y made i t . St andi ng at t he edge of t he woods, l ooki ng acr oss t he moat
at t he t hi ck, hi gh cast l e wal l , I f el t l i ke t hi s was t he most cast l ey cast l e I d
ever seen. I t was al l poi nt y and chock- f ul l o t ur r et s, wi t h nar r ow sl i t s f or cut e
Robi n Hood ar r ows, and ot her wi ndows wi t h many t i ny panes of gl ass. Of cour se, t he
f l oodl i ght s and r azor wi r e at t he t op of t he wal l det r act ed a bi t f r omi t s char m,
but i f you squi nt ed, t hey f aded a l i t t l e.
Ther e s an i r on gat e, whi sper ed Nudge, poi nt i ng. We can see t hr ough i t .
Yep. St i cki ng t o t he shadows, we hal f cr ouched, hal f cr awl ed t owar d t he cast l e,
checki ng car ef ul l y f or t r i p wi r es or hi dden t r aps. When we wer e wi t hi n t hi r t y f eet
of t he gat e, t he sound of mar chi ng f eet made us f r eeze, bel l i es t o t he gr ound.
My r apt or vi si on showed me t he next gener at i on of Er aser s goose- st eppi ng i n t he
cour t yar d. I saw j ust as cl ear l y l i nes of peopl e mar chi ng af t er t hem, f i er ce
expr essi ons on t hei r f aces. But t her e was somet hi ng odd about t hem- somet hi ng not
ent i r el y human. And t hen I saw my ol d cl one doubl e, Max I I , who had t r i ed t o r epl ace
me, who J eb had t r i ed t o make me ki l l . She was back.

82
St andi ng next t o me, Ar i had gone r i gi d, hi s eyes l ocked on t he Max cl one. I
r emember ed t hat t hey had been an ant i - r eal Max t eamand f el t my st omach t i ght en. My
vi gi l ance about Ar i cr anked up a coupl e not ches.
Whi l e I ponder ed t hi s r evol t i ng devel opment , Nudge el bowed me i n t he r i bs.
Oh, my God! she whi sper ed. Do you see t hat ?
Yep, I sai d, wat chi ng Max I I gr i ml y. We meet agai n.
What do you mean? We ve never seen her bef or e, sai d Nudge.
I t ur ned and l ooked at Nudge. Hel l o? You don t r emember t hat t opsy- t ur vy day when
I t r i ed t o cook and of f er ed t o f i x your hai r ?
Nudge f r owned. Yeah. That was Max Two. That s not what I mt al ki ng about ! Look,
f our r ows behi nd her !
I l ooked. Then I saw what Nudge meant .
Ther e was a Nudge I I - mar chi ng al ong wi t h an un- Nudge- l i ke sol emni t y. Ot her t han
t hat , she l ooked exact l y l i ke her .
Hol y mol y, I br eat hed, har dl y abl e t o bel i eve i t .
Uh- oh, sai d Angel qui et l y, t hen poi nt ed. I swal l owed a gr oan and dr opped my head
i nt o my hands f or a second. Excel l ent . J ust what t he wor l d needed: anot her Angel .
Because God knows, one si x- year - ol d mi nd- cont r ol l i ng f l yi ng chi l d j ust i sn t enough.
I don t bel i eve i t , sai d Nudge. Ther e s anot her me!
And anot her me, sai d Angel .
Was ever yone her e a cl one? Maybe not , but t hey wer e al l mut ant s of some ki nd, I
was wi l l i ng t o bet .
What , I mnot i mpor t ant enough t o have a doubl e? Tot al sounded compl et el y
of f ended. No, l et s not cl one t he dog. He s j ust a dog, af t er al l .
I r ubbed hi s head behi nd hi s ear s, but he huf f ed and f l opped over on t he gr ass.
I don t have a doubl e ei t her , sai d Ar i . So J eb hadn t cl oned hi s son. How
sent i ment al of hi m.
Ar e t hey goi ng t o t r y t o r epl ace us, l i ke t hey di d wi t h you? Nudge asked.
Yes, I sai d. But we l l cat ch on i mmedi at el y when t he new Nudge i s si l ent and
mopey, and t he new Angel act s l i ke an act ual si x- year - ol d.
They smi l ed, and I congr at ul at ed mysel f on my abi l i t y t o keep t hei r spi r i t s up
even i n t he f ace of t hi s new at r oci t y.
Act ual l y, I went on, l et s come up wi t h a code wor d or phr ase t o use wi t h one
Page 63
anot her when we need t o make absol ut el y sur e we r e t he r i ght ones. Okay?
Okay, sai d Nudge.
Ooh, I ve got one, sai d Angel , and we put our heads t oget her as she whi sper ed
i t .
Per f ect ! sai d Nudge, br eaki ng i nt o a smi l e.
I l aughed si l ent l y and sl apped her a ver y qui et hi gh f i ve.
Ar i gr i nned and nodded.
Even Tot al s f ur r y bl ack f ace seemed t o smi l e.
So what was t he secr et wor d?
Yeah, l i ke I mgonna t el l you.

83
What wi t h al l t he st ompi ng and t he f i er cel y st ar i ng st r ai ght ahead, none of t he
Fl yboys or cl ones or ot her mut ant s seemed t o hear us when we f l ew over t he wal l as
si l ent l y as we coul d. We caught up wi t h t he t r oops and st ar t ed mar chi ng r i ght behi nd
t hem, a l ast l i ne of f ol l ower s eager t o her al d t he begi nni ng of t he Re- Evol ut i on.
I mso sur e.
Anyway, gut sy l i t t l e devi l - may- car e f r eaks t hat we ar e, we t r ooped r i ght i nt o t he
bui l di ng wi t h t hem, our f eet movi ng i n l ockst ep, ar ms swi ngi ng t i ght l y at our si des.
We woul d see how l ong i t t ook someone t o not i ce. My guess i s t hat i t woul dn t be
l ong. Cal l i t a hunch.
We f i l ed bet ween t al l met al doubl e door s, whi ch swung shut behi nd us wi t h an
omi nous cl ang. I nsi de, we wer e sur pr i sed by how t he Mar chi ng Gang o Mut ant s
i mmedi at el y spl i t up. The Fl yboys veer ed of f down one di ml y l i t st one hal l way, and
t he ot her s spl i t up i nt o sever al st r eams headi ng i n di f f er ent di r ect i ons.
I t was l i ke a st one r abbi t war r en, wi t h many hal l ways wi ndi ng away f r omt he mai n
door s. Amber emer gency l i ght s bar el y l i t t he way.
Movi ng si l ent l y, we f ol l owed a gr oup t hr ough anot her set of doubl e door s, t he
sur r eal ness of i t gi vi ng me i l l - advi sed gi ggl es t hat I qui ckl y swal l owed.
St i l l no one seemed t o not i ce us. We wer e headi ng deeper and deeper i nt o one of
I t ex s most i mpor t ant st r onghol ds wi t hout anyone get t i ng i n our way.
I l ooked down at Angel .
Tr ap? I sai d out of t he si de of my mout h.
She nodded. Tr ap.

84
Ever yone on guar d, I br eat hed, and t hen suddenl y we wer e i n an ai r pl ane
hangar - si zed r oom.
The cei l i ng was at l east t hi r t y f eet hi gh, and t he onl y wi ndows wer e nar r ow
hor i zont al sl i t s maybe a f oot or t wo bel ow t he cei l i ng. The st one wal l s wer e hung
wi t h t r emendous TV scr eens, sever al on each wal l . The r est of t he r oomwas f i l l ed
wi t h gr ay met al bunks, each cover ed wi t h a ki cky ol i ve dr ab ar my bl anket sui t abl e
f or bounci ng quar t er s of f .
You had t o gi ve i t t o t hem: These guys sur e knew how t o par t y!
The mut ant s f i l ed of f i nt o t he r ows of met al bunks, and we f ound our sel ves al one
at t he edge of t he r oom.
I nst i nct i vel y we f or med a ci r cl e, our backs t o one anot her , and cased t he j oi nt .
Thi s i s so ni ce, sai d Tot al . I want my r oomat home t o l ook j ust l i ke t hi s. I f
we ever get a home.
Shh, I sai d mi l dl y. Ever yone keep an eye out , mar k your emer gency exi t s, and
l et s see what s goi ng on.
Al l ar ound us, ever yone had moved wi t h pur pose t o what I assumed wer e assi gned
chor es: The pr oduct s of t he f i nest sci ent i f i c mi nds i n t he wor l d wer e busi l y
sweepi ng, dust i ng met al beds, pol i shi ng t hei r boot s.
Nudge and I l ooked at each ot her at t he same t i me, and Angel r ead our mi nds. I n
t he next moment we had each f ound boot s i n our si zes beneat h var i ous beds. Ar i
copi ed us, managi ng t o f i nd some ext r a- l ar ge ones. I n seconds we had l aced t hemont o
our f eet and hi dden our f i l t hy, shr edded sneaker s.
Oh, yeah, sai d Tot al . Now we bl end.
I made a f ace at hi mand t hen t ur ned my at t ent i on t o t he TV scr eens. Ther e wer e
t hr ee scr eens on each wal l , and i f t hey d been showi ng, say, a soccer game, I woul d
have been i n pi g heaven.
However , t hey wer e br oadcast i ng t he ear nest f ace of a f ai r - hai r ed woman who was
Page 64
speaki ng i n consecut i ve l anguages. We t apped our f eet t hr ough Ger man, Fr ench,
Spani sh, I t al i an, and J apanese, wi t h our r oom s occupant s scar i l y shout i ng agr eement
and pr ai se ever y so of t en.
Nudge f r owned. Who does she r emi nd me of ? I f eel l i ke I ve seen her bef or e.
I t hought , t hen shr ugged. No i dea.
Fi nal l y t he whi t ecoat got t o Engl i sh. The t i me of t he Re- Evol ut i on i s her e! she
sai d f or cef ul l y. Var i ous voi ces i n t he r oomcheer ed.
We have begun i mpl ement i ng t he By- Hal f Pl an! Even as you wat ch t hi s, t he weak,
t he unnecessar y, t he ones who dr ai n our r esour ces, ar e bei ng el i mi nat ed!

85
Mor e cheer s, whi l e we f i ve l ooked at one anot her i n hor r or and t hen qui ckl y
r emember ed t o cheer al ong wi t h t he ot her s.
The woman l ooked out f r omt he scr een wi t h t he si ncer e zeal of a ser i ous nut j ob.
We ar e cr eat i ng a new wor l d. A wor l d wher e t her e i s no hunger , no si ckness, no
weakness.
Because t hey ki l l ed ever yone, I mut t er ed.
The causes of war wi l l be el i mi nat ed, she went on ear nest l y. Ther e wi l l be
pl ent y of f ood f or ever yone. Ther e wi l l be pl ent y of r oomf or ever yone. Peopl e wi l l
cease t o f i ght over pr oper t y, f ood, weal t h, ener gy r esour ces.
Ever yone i n t he r oomcheer ed.
Yep, no r eason t o f i ght , I whi sper ed. Unl ess, of cour se, you r e per sni cket y
about r el i gi on. I bet ever yone wi l l be so heal t hy and happy t hat i t won t even
mat t er anymor e. I t s not l i ke peopl e t ake i t t hat ser i ousl y. I r ol l ed my eyes and
shook my head.
Ever y so of t en someone woul d wal k past us, not gi vi ng us a second gl ance. We
cheer ed wi t h t he ot her s and t r i ed t o l ook busy by smoot hi ng beds, l i ni ng up shoes,
pi cki ng l i nt of f bl anket s.
Remember , sai d t he whi t ecoat , we can t achi eve Re- Evol ut i on wi t hout you, our
chosen ones. The new or der must be pur e. Al l r aces ar e equal . Al l gender s ar e equal .
But i l l ness, weakness, and ot her f l aws must be el i mi nat ed.
Al l gender s? whi sper ed Nudge. Ar en t t her e j ust t he t wo? Or di d I mi ss
somet hi ng?
I shr ugged. No i dea. Maybe t hey ve cr eat ed ot her s.
The t hought was f ai r l y r epul si ve, and we made eew f aces at each ot her .
So i f you know of anyone who shoul d exper i ence t he gl or y of mar t yr domso t hat
ot her s may l i ve i n par adi se, pl ease i nf or myour super vi sor i mmedi at el y, sai d t he
woman. I t wi l l r ef l ect wel l on you, and you wi l l be pr ai sed.
I l ooked at t he ot her s, appal l ed. Oh, my God, I sai d sof t l y. They want peopl e
t o t ur n i n anyone who i sn t per f ect . Whi ch i s, l i ke, ever yone! No one i s per f ect !
I coul dn t have sai d i t bet t er mysel f , Max, sai d t he Voi ce.
So what now? I t hought .
You r e wher e you need t o be, doi ng what you need t o do, sai d t he Voi ce. I t was so
r ar e t hat I got appr oval f r omt he Voi ce t hat I was t aken aback. But ar e you sur e you
can do t hi s al one?
I ve got Nudge and Angel and Tot al and Ar i , I t hought .
You r e mi ssi ng hal f your f ami l y, sai d t he Voi ce. Who ar e al so hal f your ar my.
Not my f aul t , I t hought t est i l y. Not my deci si on.
Does t hat mean i t i sn t your pr obl emand you don t have t o f i x i t ?
I nar r owed my eyes suspi ci ousl y. On t he TV scr een, t he whi t ecoat had swi t ched back
t o Ger man.
And your poi nt i s. . . ? I t hought .
You need t he r est of t he f l ock. You need mor e f i ght er s on your si de. Get t hem
back.
I gr oaned t o mysel f . Oh, j ust heck.

86
We woul d be amazi ng spi es, Nudge whi sper ed i nt o my ear , don t you t hi nk so?
The f i ve of us wer e cr awl i ng si l ent l y t hr ough a vent i l at i on duct , i n sear ch of a
comput er . So f ar we had passed anot her bar r acks, a caf et er i a, bat hr ooms- I guess even
per f ect peopl e have t o go somet i mes- and a coupl e of of f i ces wi t h wor ker s i n t hem.
We needed an empt y r oomwi t h a comput er . And t hen, l i ke, a bunch of hot f ood! And
comf y beds! Af t er what f el t l i ke mi l es of cr awl i ng on har d met al , we l ooked down
Page 65
i nt o a r oomt hat was di ml y l i t by a comput er scr een saver .
As qui et l y as possi bl e, we unscr ewed t he gr at e, t hen dr opped one at a t i me down
i nt o t he r oom, wai t i ng f or t he bl ar e of mot i on det ect or s. But i t r emai ned qui et .
Okay, make t hi s f ast , I t ol d Nudge. Ther e mi ght be si l ent al ar ms, hi dden
i nf r ar ed camer as, what ever . We pr obabl y have about a mi nut e.
Nudge nodded and sat down i n f r ont of t he comput er . She put her hands on t he
keyboar d and cl osed her eyes. Seconds t i cked by, wi t h me get t i ng mor e and mor e
ner vous and t wi t chy.
Suddenl y she opened her eyes, l ooked at t he comput er keyboar d, and st ar t ed t o
t ype.
I n seconds she had cl ear ed t he comput er scr een and pul l ed up an e- mai l pr ogr am.
I have no i dea how she does t hat , I whi sper ed, and Tot al nodded.
Okay, sai d Nudge. I mconnect ed.
Gr eat j ob, I sai d, my hear t hammer i ng, and not onl y because I was expect i ng t o
be caught any second. Tel l Fang t o come t o Lendehei mr i ght away, wi t h ever ybody.
Tel l hi mt hi ngs ar e r eal l y, r eal l y bad.
Nudge t yped qui ckl y.
Tel l hi mt hat t he r eal l y evi l st uf f has st ar t ed and t hat we have days, maybe
hour s, t o t hr ow a wr ench i n i t .
Wr ench st ar t s wi t h w, sai d Tot al , r eadi ng over her shoul der .
I t doesn t mat t er , I hi ssed. J ust t el l Fang t o get hi s but t her e, now!
Nudge nodded and t yped, t hen hi t t he Send but t on. And our message was of f ,
hopef ul l y t o make i t s way t o Fang s e- mai l account .
Tr ue, he got a kat r i l l i on messages a day, but I hoped hi s eye woul d be caught by
t he al l - cap THI S I S FROM MAX. READ I T NOW! ! ! ! i n t he subj ect l i ne.
Wel l , I sai d, t hat s al l we can do. We j ust have t o hope i t get s t hr ough.
The comput er scr een bl i nked, and t hen t he whi t ecoat we d seen on TV ear l i er popped
up, l ooki ng st r ai ght at us.
Ver y good, Max, she sai d, sendi ng chi l l s down my spi ne. You got f ur t her t han I
t hought you woul d. I shoul d have gi ven you mor e cr edi t .
Behi nd my back I made mot i ons wi t h my hands t hat meant , Up and out of her e, now!
No, t her e s no poi nt i n t hat , sai d t he woman. Look up.
So of cour se I l ooked up. The cei l i ng was absol ut el y cover ed wi t h hover i ng, si l ent
Fl yboys, cl i ngi ng l i ke hai r y bugs, t hei r r ed eyes gl owi ng.
Oh, cr ap, I sai d.
How el oquent , sai d t he woman. And t hen, At t ack t hem!

87
I t wasn t pr et t y. We di d manage t o t ake out si x or so Fl yboys, but af t er al l t he
met al spr i ngs and f ur had set t l ed, we wer e capt ur ed, our hands cuf f ed, our l egs
shackl ed.
My nose was bl eedi ng, and a cut on t he i nsi de of my mout h st ung. Ar i had f ar ed
badl y, and hi s r ecent l y heal ed f ace showed newl y spl i t ski n and t wo bl ack eyes. Bot h
Angel and Nudge had nast y br ui ses, but not hi ng seemed t o be br oken. Tot al of cour se
had done hi s best , bi t i ng t he Fl yboys, but he hadn t done much damage.
The Fl yboys car r i ed/ dr agged us t hr ough a ser i es of t unnel s, and I t r i ed t o
memor i ze t he r out e. We went up and down st ai r s, t hr ough a r ound t ower , and f i nal l y
came t o a pi vot i ng st one sl ab t hat became a secr et door . Thr ough t hi s door was an
of f i ce, l i ke a busi ness of f i ce. I t l ooked t ot al l y out of pl ace, wi t h f l uor escent
l i ght i ng and a moder n wooden desk, i nst ead of , say, a medi eval t or t ur e devi ce.
The Fl yboys dr opped us r oughl y on t he st one f l oor , whi ch was padded her e and t her e
by Or i ent al car pet s. None of us made a sound as our knees sl ammed agai nst t he st one,
our shackl ed hands unabl e t o br eak our f al l . I n a second we al l scr ambl ed up,
st andi ng wi t h our backs t o one anot her , sear chi ng f or exi t s, count i ng guar ds,
seeki ng out anyt hi ng we coul d use f or weapons. We r e j ust f unny t hat way.
My eye was caught by somet hi ng on t he bi g desk. A l i t t l e pl aque t hat sai d
DI RECTOR.
Ooh, t he Di r ect or ! At l ast ! The head honcho, bi g cheese, bi g kahuna! The one
pul l i ng al l of our st r i ngs! The one i n char ge of ever yt hi ng and ever yone! The
compl et el y i nsane psychopat h who was t r yi ng t o el i mi nat e most of t he wor l d s
popul at i on! Fi nal l y we woul d meet . And I woul d t ake hi mapar t usi ng onl y my t eet h i f
necessar y.
I el bowed t he ot her s and nodded my head at t he desk.
Page 66
You know what t o do, I br eat hed t o Angel . Ti me f or a l i t t l e mi nd puppet .
The heavy st one wal l pi vot ed agai n, and t he f ai r - hai r ed woman f r omt he TV came i n,
f ol l owed by sever al ot her whi t ecoat s. The whi t ecoat s had t he i nevi t abl e
st et hoscopes, bl ood pr essur e cuf f s, et c. Thi s was goi ng t o be amusi ng. A t ot al l y
hor r i bl e ki nd of amusi ng.
Hel l o, Max, sai d t he woman. She was about my hei ght , wi t h a sl ender bui l d.
Gl anci ng at t he ot her s, she sai d, Angel , Nudge, Ar i . And t he dog.
I knew t hat ki l l ed Tot al , but he di dn t say anyt hi ng.
I ve been wai t i ng t o meet you f or a l ong t i me, sai d t he woman. I t s ver y
i mpor t ant t hat we speak, f ace- t o- f ace. Don t you t hi nk so?
Wel l , what s i mpor t ant i s t hat you bel i eve t hat , I sai d, and her eyes f l i cker ed.
My name i s Mar i an J anssen, she sai d cal ml y. I mt he Di r ect or of I t ex, and i t s
r esear ch and devel opment compani es.
I kept my f ace ver y st i l l . Thi s was t he Di r ect or ? The Di r ect or was a woman? Oddl y,
i t was di sappoi nt i ng t hat t he per son behi nd al l of t hi s dest r uct i on was a woman.
Thi s ki nd of schi zo- st eamr ol l er behavi or seemed mor e nat ur al f or a man, at l east t o
me.
Not onl y t hat , she cont i nued, keepi ng her eyes on my f ace, but I amyour
mot her , Max.

Par t 4
I Di dn t J ust Hear What I Thought I Hear d, Di d I ?

88
Fr ankl y, i t t akes a l ot t o sur pr i se me. I mpr et t y unsur pr i sabl e. But I admi t ,
t hat was pr et t y much t he l ast t hi ng I expect ed t o hear . Hoo, del usi onal much? I
sai d, pr oud t hat my voi ce was r ock sol i d. Al most .
The Di r ect or wal ked t o her bi g desk and set down sever al CD- ROMs.
I know i t s har d t o bel i eve, but l ook cl osel y at me, Max. I man ol der ver si on of
you.
I st ar ed at her bl ond hai r , her dar k br own eyes. I r emember ed t hat Nudge had sai d
she r emi nded her of someone.
Yeah? I sai d. Let s see your wi ngs.
She gave me a smi l e. I don t have any avi an DNA. But you- you wer e t he most
br i l l i ant success we ever had.
I was st i l l r eel i ng f r omshock, so I went on smar t r et or t aut opi l ot . Then why
do you and t er Bor cht keep t r yi ng t o ki l l us?
You r e an ol der gener at i on, Max, she expl ai ned. You have no pr oven l i f e span.
Ther e s no r oomf or mi st akes i n t he new wor l d.
I was f l oor ed. Her e s a t i p: Your pr ot ect i ve mat er nal i nst i nct sucks.
I myour mot her , Max, but I mal so a sci ent i st . Bel i eve me, wat chi ng you gr ow up
f r omaf ar , devi si ng t hi s ent i r e game, t hi s ser i es of t est s- t her e wer e t i mes t hat I
di dn t t hi nk I coul d go t hr ough i t .
Funny, I f el t t he same way. For compl et el y di f f er ent r easons. But you had a
choi ce, I poi nt ed out , becomi ng mor e and mor e i ncr edul ous.
I mmaki ng t he ul t i mat e sacr i f i ce t o cr eat e a new wor l d. I gave my onl y chi l d t o
t he cause.
That s not t he ul t i mat e sacr i f i ce! I sai d, out r aged. Gi vi ng your sel f woul d be
t he ul t i mat e! Gi vi ng me up i s l i ke t he second- t o- ul t i mat e! See t he di f f er ence?
She smi l ed somewhat sadl y. You r e so smar t , Max. I mso pr oud of you.
Whi ch makes one of us, I sai d. I mean, God! I t s par ent s car eer day at school .
I st and up and say, My mot her i s an evi l sci ent i st who s pl anni ng a hol ocaust t hat
wi l l el i mi nat e hal f t he peopl e on Ear t h. How coul d I ever l i ve t hat down?!
She t ur ned away and sat at her desk. I bl ame J eb f or l et t i ng you be such a smar t
al eck.
I st ar ed at her . I bl ame you f or al t er i ng my DNA! I mean, I have wi ngs, l ady!
What wer e you t hi nki ng?
I was t hi nki ng t hat t he wor l d s popul at i on i s dest r oyi ng i t sel f , she sai d i n a
st eel y t one I r ecogni zed. ( I have one j ust l i ke i t . ) I was t hi nki ng t hat someone
had t o st and up and t ake dr ast i c act i on bef or e t hi s ent i r e pl anet i s i ncapabl e of
suppor t i ng human l i f e. Yes, you r e my daught er , but you r e st i l l j ust par t of t he
bi g pi ct ur e, par t of t he equat i on. I was t hi nki ng I d do anyt hi ng t o make sur e t he
human r ace sur vi ves. Even i f i t seems awf ul i n t he shor t t er m. I n f ut ur e hi st or y
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books, I l l be her al ded as t he savi or of humani t y.
Per f ect . I f i nal l y, af t er f our t een year s, meet my mot her , and she s a r avi ng
l unat i c. Thi s day j ust coul d not get bet t er .
I swal l owed. You gi ve good megal omani a, I sai d.
The Di r ect or mot i oned t o t he Fl yboys hover i ng ar ound t he edges of t he r oom. Take
t hemt o t he pl ace t hat I pr epar ed, she sai d. You know what t o do once you get
t her e.

89
I don t want t o make you f eel even wor se, Max, sai d Tot al . But I can t st and
your mot her .
I l ooked at hi m. I n t he Engl i sh/ mad- sci ent i st di ct i onar y, you can t r ansl at e pl ace
I pr epar ed as dank, omi nous dungeon. Li t er al l y a f r eaki ng dungeon! Ci nder el l a s
cast l e had come compl et e wi t h a r eal dungeon. And t he you know what t o do par t
t r ansl at ed t o chai n t hemal l t o t he wal l s l i ke medi eval pr i soner s.
Wel l , I sai d, at l east wi t h my par ent s, I don t have t o l ook har d f or somet hi ng
t o r ebel agai nst .
Anyway, we seemed t o be t he onl y occupant s i n t he dungeon, t hough i t st r et ched on,
out of si ght . Loudspeaker s wer e hung on t he wal l s, and t hey wer e pl ayi ng t he
Di r ect or s br ai nwashi ng messages, whi ch i n i t sel f was enough t o dr i ve anyone
st ar ker s.
Li ke, i f t he whol e chai ned t o a wal l i n a dungeon t hi ng wasn t enough t o send
you ar ound t he bend.
Al l of us wer e f l yi ng cr eat ur es, except f or Tot al , and sor t of hal f way Ar i . So
chai ni ng us t o t he wal l , under gr ound, was one of t he wor st t hi ngs you coul d do.
My mot her had done t hi s t o us.
I shook my head, unut t er abl y depr essed. I mean, why coul dn t she have been a ni ce
hooker , or a cr ack addi ct , l i ke Fang s mom?
Speaki ng of Fang, sai d Nudge, maybe he s on hi s way her e r i ght now.
A gl eamof hope f l ar ed and was j ust as qui ckl y ext i ngui shed. Yeah, i f our message
got t hr ough. I f he s got t en over Ar i , whi ch I doubt . I f t hey can somehow get t o
Eur ope, l i ke, r i ght away.
Max? sai d Angel . You r e ki nd of maki ng t hi ngs wor se.
I was. I was bei ng a j er k. Lat er , when I was al one, I woul d l i e down and sob my
gut s out f r omt he r aw, aci d di sappoi nt ment about my mot her . Ri ght now I had t o st op
t aki ng i t out on ever yone.
You r e r i ght , I sai d, my t hr oat f eel i ng t i ght . I msor r y. Act ual l y, I do t hi nk
t hat our e- mai l got t hr ough, because Nudge i s br i l l i ant at t hat st uf f . And he s
Fang. They r e on t hei r way. I know i t .
Si l ence.
You l i e r eal l y wel l , Max, Nudge sai d appr ovi ngl y.
I l aughed. I ve had a l ot of pr act i ce. But ser i ousl y, I do bet t hey r e on t hei r
way.
How coul d t hey cr oss t he ocean? Ar i asked, not meanl y, j ust wonder i ng.
Maybe t hey got t i cket s on a pl ane, l i ke us, sai d Angel .
Or maybe t hey st owed away on a pl ane, suggest ed Nudge.
Or maybe t hey, l i ke, f l ew up i nt o t he sky, wai t ed f or a j et t o pass by, t hen
dr opped down ont o i t and hel d on, I sai d dr amat i cal l y, and we al l l aughed. I
i mi t at ed Fang hangi ng on t o a j et , mout h open f r omt he wi nd dr ag.
Thei r chuckl es seemed t o make t he wal l s r ecede a bi t and t he dar kness not qui t e so
dar k.
The l oudspeaker s wer e most annoyi ng when t hey wer e i n Engl i sh because we coul dn t
hel p l i st eni ng. The Di r ect or - or Cr azy Ol d Mom, as I l i ked t o t hi nk of her - was agai n
spout i ng somet hi ng about t he f ut ur e of f l awl essness.
She i s a ser i ousl y negat i ve woman, I sai d.
I msor r y, Max, sai d Nudge. I know she wasn t what you wer e hopi ng f or .
Yeah. I smi l ed wr yl y. Del usi onal mass mur der er wasn t r eal l y on my l i st .
Agai n I want ed t o wai l wi t h di sappoi nt ment , but I swal l owed i t down. I had f i nal l y
f ound my mot her , and she was my wor st ni ght mar e. Thi s was r eal l y j ust t oo bi t t er t o
bear . On t op of t hat , Nudge was t r yi ng t o comf or t me. I t was my j ob t o comf or t her .
Usual l y t he onl y per son who comf or t ed me was Fang. Who had deser t ed me.
A sl i ght scr at chi ng sound i n t he shadows made us al l pr i ck up our ear s.
Rat s, sai d Nudge ner vousl y.
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But i t wasn t r at s. A t al l f i gur e appear ed i n t he di st ance. We al l went on al er t ,
r eady f or a f i ght , si nce f l i ght was out of t he quest i on.
A voi ce spoke.
Max, J eb sai d.
And now my day of hor r or was compl et e.

90
Wel l , wel l , I sai d, usi ng ever y bi t of st r engt h I had t o make my voi ce sound
chi pper . Fancy meet i ng you. Come her e of t en? How s t he f ood?
J eb moved cl oser , t i l l he st epped i nt o t he di mci r cl e of l i ght gi ven of f by t he
amber emer gency f i xt ur e. He l ooked j ust t he same- maybe mor e t i r ed t han usual . I
guess t or t ur i ng ki ds t akes i t out of you.
He gave me hi s t r ademar k smi l e t i nged wi t h sadness. Act ual l y, no one knows I m
her e.
I made my eyes r ound. Gosh, I sur e won t t el l anyone!
So you met t he Di r ect or ? he asked.
My f acade cr ashed down, but I st r uggl ed t o keep i t t oget her . Yes. And what a
pi cni c she t ur ned out t o be. Thr ee bi l l i on women wi t h ovar i es on t hi s pl anet , and I
had t o get t he one vot ed most l i kel y t o become a del usi onal psychopat h as my mom.
J eb knel t down on t he f i l t hy st one f l oor , l ooki ng at me. I f el t Angel wound
t i ght l y wi t h t ensi on next t o me and wonder ed i f she was pi cki ng up anyt hi ng f r om
J eb. He hadn t acknowl edged t he ot her s, i ncl udi ng Ar i .
You can st i l l save t he wor l d, Max.
A sudden wave of exhaust i on al most sucked me under . I want ed t o r ol l up i nt o a
f et al posi t i on and st ay t her e f or t he r est of my l i f e, whi ch I hoped woul d be
mer ci f ul l y shor t . I had been wor ki ng so har d f or so l ong, goi ng at 140 per cent . I
had pr et t y much hi t r ock bot t om.
I cl osed my eyes wear i l y and l eaned agai nst t he dank st one wal l behi nd me. How?
I sai d. Thr ough Re- Evol ut i on? The By- Hal f Pl an? No, t hanks. I mget t i ng of f t he
madcap t r ai n of mass dest r uct i on.
Max, you have t o t r ust me, sai d t he Voi ce i nsi de my head. You wer e cr eat ed t o save
t he wor l d. You st i l l can.
Gi ve i t a r est , Voi ce, I t hought . I mbeat .
Max, sai d t he Voi ce. Max.
Then i t occur r ed t o me t hat t he Voi ce wasn t act ual l y i nsi de my head.
Oh, God.
I opened my eyes.
J eb was st i l l kneel i ng i n f r ont of me. You ve come a l ong way, Max, sai d t he
Voi ce, except t hat i t was J eb s mout h movi ng, t he sound comi ng f r omhi m. You r e
al most home. Ever yt hi ng wi l l wor k out , but you have t o do your best . And you have t o
t r ust me agai n.
I t was J eb, speaki ng wi t h t he Voi ce, t he Voi ce I d been hear i ng i nsi de my head f or
mont hs.
J eb was t he Voi ce.

91
Fang paused a moment , hi s f i nger s over t he keyboar d i n t he I nt er net caf é .
Next t o hi m, I ggy and t he Gasman wer e sucki ng down l at t es l i ke t her e was no
t omor r ow.
Whi ch maybe t her e wasn t .
I f eel l i ke I coul d f l y, l i ke, t o t he space st at i on! t he Gasman sai d
ent husi ast i cal l y.
Fang l ooked over at hi m. No mor e caf f ei ne f or you, buddy. He gl anced ar ound t o
make sur e no one had hear d t he Gasman. But t hey wer e of f i n a cor ner of t hi s
r un- down cof f ee shop, and t her e wer en t t hat many ot her peopl e i n her e anyway.
I ggy dr ai ned hi s cup and wi ped t he f oammust ache of f hi s l i p. I l i ked i t f ar t her
sout h, he compl ai ned. The sunshi ne, t he beach bunni es. Up nor t h her e, t hi s pl ace
has t oo much of t he damp- mi st t hi ng goi ng on.
I t s r eal l y pr et t y, t hough, t he Gasman sai d. The mount ai ns and t he ocean. And
t he peopl e l ook mor e r eal . He gl anced over at Fang. Ar e ki ds st i l l r eadi ng your
bl og?
Fang nodded. Tons.
He scr ol l ed down qui ckl y, scanni ng t he ent r i es, and t hen he f el t someone s eyes on
Page 69
hi m. I nst ant l y he l ooked up and t r acked hi s gaze l ef t t o r i ght , t aki ng i n t he whol e
caf é . I t was t i mes l i ke t hi s he mi ssed Max t he most - because she woul d have f el t
i t t oo, and t hey woul d have exchanged gl ances and known what t o do i n a moment ,
wi t hout speaki ng.
Now i t was j ust hi mon t hi s coast , and her and t hat cr et i n wher ever t hey wer e.
Fang saw not hi ng, so he moved hi s eyes mor e sl owl y t hi s t i me, r i ght t o l ef t .
Ther e. That guy. He was headed t hi s way.
Fang shut t he l apt op and t apped I ggy s hand. The Gasman saw i t and l ooked up, on
al er t . Ei ght year s ol d and hi s f i st s wer e cl enched, muscl es t i ght , r eady t o f i ght .
When t he guy was about f i f t een f eet away, st i l l beel i ni ng f or t hem, Fang f r owned.
We know t hi s guy, he mur mur ed. Who i s he?
Casual l y t he Gasman t ur ned and l ooked over hi s shoul der . Uh. . .
Hi s f oot st eps, I ggy mut t er ed. Fang coul dn t hear hi s f oot st eps. I ggy went on,
f ace pi nched wi t h concent r at i on. Those f oot st eps. . . We hear d t hem. . . i n a subway
t unnel .
Fang s eyes wi dened, and he shar pened hi s f ocus.
Of cour se.
Now t he guy was si x f eet away, and he st opped. Fang had never seen hi mi n dayl i ght
bef or e, onl y i n f l i cker i ng r ef l ect i ons f r omoi l - can f i r es i n t he t r ai n t unnel s bel ow
New Yor k Ci t y. He was t he homel ess comput er ner d who car r i ed a Mac ever ywher e he
went , t he guy who d cl ai med t hat Max s chi p was scr ewi ng up hi s har d dr i ve. When
t hey d asked hi mabout her chi p, he d gone wi ggy and r un of f . What was t hi s guy
doi ng her e?
You. The guy f r owned and poi nt ed at t hembut pi t ched hi s voi ce so onl y t hey
coul d hear hi m. What ar e you doi ng her e?
Take a seat , Fang i nvi t ed hi m, pushi ng one out wi t h hi s f oot .
The guy l ooked ar ound suspi ci ousl y. Wher e s your gi r l f r i end? The one wi t h t he
chi p i nsi de her .
Not wi t h us.
He seemed t o r el ax, f r act i onal l y, and edged war i l y i nt o t he seat , l ooki ng ar ound.
Fang smi l ed t o hi msel f . Fi nal l y, someone mor e par anoi d t han t hey wer e. I t was
r ef r eshi ng.
What ar e you doi ng her e? Fang asked, gest ur i ng t o t he cof f ee shop. Above
gr ound. On t he West Coast .
The guy shr ugged. I get ar ound. I see peopl e her e, t her e, al l over . I j ust l i ke
t o hang i n New Yor k most l y- i t s easi er t o bl end.
Yeah, Fang agr eed.
Then t he guy s eyes f el l on Fang s cl osed l apt op, and Fang saw hi mshi f t hi s al er t
l evel f r omyel l ow up t o or ange.
Ni ce book, he sai d.
Thanks. Fang wai t ed.
Don t usual l y see one l i ke t hat ar ound.
Guess not .
The guy seemed t o make a deci si on, and he l eaned f or war d acr oss t he t abl e.
Wher e d you get i t ? Or do I not want t o know?
Fang al most gr i nned. You pr obabl y don t want t o know.
The guy shook hi s head. You peopl e get i nt o some ser i ous st uf f .
Yeah, Fang acknowl edged wi t h a si gh. He l ooked up. Woul d you know how t o get a
message t hr ough t o ever y ki d on t he net , ever ywher e i n t he wor l d?

92
The guy l ooked at Fang. Maybe. Pr obabl y. Guess i t depends on t he message.
Woul d you need t o know t he message? Fang asked, seei ng a bi g wr i nkl e l oomi ng.
Thi s guy was, af t er al l , pr et t y much a nut case. Who knew how he d r eact t o Fang s
message?
The guy t hought about i t , t hen sai d, Yeah.
Ther e goes t hat pl an, sai d I ggy, sucki ng down t he l ast of hi s l at t e.
Can I have a muf f i n? t he Gasman put i n.
Fang pushed some money acr oss t he t abl e. The Gasman t ook i t and headed t o t he
count er , keepi ng an eye out ar ound hi mt he whol e way.
What s your name? Fang asked.
Ther e was a l ong pause whi l e t he guy consi der ed.
Man, t hi s guy s mor e par anoi d t han we ar e, I ggy sai d. I t s ki nd of r ef r eshi ng.
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The guy l ooked at I ggy and seemed t o not i ce f or t he f i r st t i me t hat I ggy was
bl i nd. He t ur ned back t o Fang. Mi ke. What s your s?
Fang. He s I ggy. The l i t t l e one s t he Gasman. Don t ask why.
Si t her e l ong enough and you l l f i nd out , I ggy mut t er ed.
Mi ke s eyes went wi de, and he t ensed i n hi s chai r . Fang and I ggy t ensed t oo,
wai t i ng.
I s t hat your bl og on t he Web? Mi ke asked i n a whi sper .
Yeah.
The Gasman r et ur ned and put a pl at e of muf f i ns on t he t abl e. He i mmedi at el y pi cked
up on t he vi be and st i l l ed, l ooki ng qui ckl y f r omboy t o boy. Si nce no one was
pul l i ng out weapons, he sat down and t ook a muf f i n, pushi ng t he r est t owar d t he
ot her s.
So you r e sayi n you have. . . l i ke, wi ngs? Mi ke kept hi s voi ce l ow.
Not j ust l i ke em, sai d I ggy, t al ki ng wi t h hi s mout h f ul l . We got em. He
r eal i zed Fang hadn t answer ed t he quest i on and t ur ned hi s head. Oh. Was t hat a
secr et ?
Not anymor e, Fang sai d dr yl y.
You r e t he bi r d ki ds ever yone s t al ki n about .
Fang shr ugged. Can you hel p me or not ?
I l l hel p you i f you r e t hem. Convi nce me.
I l l need mor e r oom, sai d Fang, l ooki ng ar ound.
Mi ke t ook t hemupst ai r s, above t he cof f ee shop, wher e he pul l ed out a set of keys
and unl ocked a door . Fang was on hyper al er t and wi shed Angel wer e t her e t o scan f or
any t hr eat s.
I n her e. Mi ke usher ed t hemi nt o a l ar ge r oom, obvi ousl y used f or st or age. Boxes
of var i ous suppl i es wer e st acked al ong one wal l , but t he mi ddl e of t he r oomwas
empt y. Thi s enough space?
Fang nodded and shr ugged of f hi s j acket . He made not e of wher e t he wi ndows wer e
and gauged whet her t hey wer e si ngl e or doubl e paned, i n case he had t o j ump t hr ough
one any t i me soon.
Sl owl y, Fang unf ol ded hi s wi ngs, st r et chi ng hi s muscl es, enj oyi ng t he sensat i on of
ext endi ng t hemaf t er hol di ng t hemt i ght agai nst hi s back f or hour s. He shook t hem
out , f eel i ng t he f eat her s al i gn. The t i ps of hi s wi ngs al most t ouched t he wal l s on
bot h si des of t he r oom. He wi shed he coul d t ake of f r i ght now and f l y f or hour s,
wheel i ng t hr ough t he open sky.
Mi ke s mout h was sl i ght l y open. Dude. That i s so awesome. He l ooked at I ggy and
t he Gasman. You guys got emt oo? What about t hose chi cks t hat wer e wi t h you?
We al l have t hem, sai d Fang. Now, howsabout sendi ng t hat message?

93
Mi ke s f i nger s f l ew over t he keyboar d of Fang s l apt op. I j ust got t a wr i t e a bi t
of code her e, he mut t er ed. Get you i n t hr ough a bunch of di f f er ent back door s.
Lot sa peopl e got f i r ewal l s up, st uf f l i ke t hat , but t hi s shoul d bypass most of em.
He opened Fang s mai n bl og page and scanned i t qui ckl y. Okay, I ve got t a t r y t o
get access t o t hemt hr ough t hei r I P addr esses, si nce you don t have most of
t hei r e- mai l addr esses, he sai d. Thi s
coul d be t r i cky, but I l l gi ve i t a shot .
You ar e a cr i mi nal mast er mi nd, t he Gasman sai d admi r i ngl y.
I t r y, Mi ke sai d.
Wai t , sai d Fang, r eadi ng over hi s shoul der . Swi t ch over t o my e- mai l f or a sec.
I j ust saw a pop- up al er t on t he bot t omof t he scr een.
Yeah, t hi s one has t hr ee r ed f l ags f or pr i or i t y, Mi ke sai d, poi nt i ng.
Fang s hear t sped up.
THI S I S FROM MAX. READ I T NOW! ! ! !
We r e i n Ger many. Town of Lendehei m. Bi g cast l e her e, head of I t ex. Lot s of r eal l y
bad st uf f . Come as f ast as you can. ( Hi Fang! Fr omNudge. I mi ss you! ) Do NOT bl ow
t hi s of f . Come! ! ! We have days, maybe hour s. I mean i t , you bet t er get your but t
over her e. Max.
Huh. Fang sat back and nodded at Mi ke t o keep wor ki ng.
So. Max want ed hi mback, eh? She di dn t say whet her she st i l l had Fr ankenbi r dy
Page 71
wi t h her . I f she di d, Fang di dn t want any par t of i t .
On t he ot her wi ng, i t had cost her a l ot of pr i de t o ask hi mt o come. She d never
even t aken hi s bl og t hat ser i ousl y, and now she was usi ng i t t o beg hi mt o come
back. Wel l , or der hi mt o come back. Whi ch was as cl ose t o beggi ng as Max woul d get .
What wer e t hey doi ng i n Ger many? How had t hey got t en t o Eur ope? How di d she expect
hi mt o get t o Eur ope?
He l ooked at t he dat e on t he e- mai l . Ear l y t hi s mor ni ng. And Ger many was about t en
hour s or so ahead. . . .
How woul d Max def i ne r eal l y bad st uf f ? As opposed t o j ust or di nar y bad st uf f ?
St uf f bad enough t o make her swal l ow her pr i de and ask hi mt o come hel p.
So t hey wer e t al ki ng pr et t y uni magi nabl y bad.
Okay, I got i t , sai d Mi ke, si t t i ng back. He had a pr oud, sat i sf i ed smi l e on hi s
f ace. I t l l wor k a l i t t l e l i ke a vi r us, i n t hat i t l l access ot her addr esses
t hr ough peopl e s e- mai l pr ogr ams, but i t won t cause any damage. He f r owned. I
t hi nk. Anyway, t ype your message and t hen hi t t hi s speci al Send box I cr eat ed. Let s
see what happens.
Fang swal l owed. Thi s was i t . Thi s was hi s chance t o get ki ds t o t ake t hi s
ser i ousl y, t el l t hemwhat was goi ng on. Al l over t he pl anet , ki ds woul d r ead t hi s
message.
Thi s was hi s chance t o save t he wor l d.
He st ar t ed wr i t i ng.

94
To: undi scl osed r eci pi ent s
Fr om: Fang
Subj ect : URGENT! We want our pl anet back!
Hey. I f you get t hi s message, we mi ght have a chance. I mean t he wor l d mi ght have
a chance. Long st or y shor t : The gr own- ups have t aken a ni ce cl ean pl anet and t r ashed
i t f or money. Not ever y gr own- up. But a bunch of t hem, over and over , choose money
and pr of i t s over cl ean ai r and wat er . I t s t hei r way of t el l i ng us t hey don t gi ve a
r at s but t about us, t he ki ds, who ar e goi ng t o i nher i t what s l ef t of t he Ear t h.
A gr oup of sci ent i st s want t o t ake back t he pl anet bef or e i t s t oo l at e and st op
t he pol l ut i on. Good, r i ght ? Onl y pr obl emi s t hey t hi nk t hey need t o get r i d of hal f
t he wor l d s popul at i on t o do i t . So i t s l i ke: Save t he pl anet so t he pol l ut i on
doesn t ki l l peopl e, or . . . j ust ki l l peopl e t o st ar t wi t h, save ever yone t i me. For
you ki ds at home, t hat s cal l ed f l awed l ogi c. I mean, cal l me cr azy, but t hat
seems l i ke a r eal l y bad pl an.
The ot her t hi ng about t hese sci ent i st s i s t hat t hey ve t r i ed t o cr eat e a new ki nd
of human who mi ght sur vi ve bet t er , l i ke i f t her e s a nucl ear wi nt er or what ever . I
won t go i nt o t he det ai l s, but l et me j ust say t hat t hi s i dea i s as boneheaded and
danger ous as t hei r ki l l hal f t he peopl e pl an.
What I msayi ng i s: I t s up t o us. You and me. Me and my f l ock, you and your
f r i ends. The ki ds. We want - we deser ve- t o i nher i t a cl ean, unmessed- up pl anet , and
st i l l keep ever yone who s al r eady l i vi ng on i t .
We can do i t . But we have t o j oi n t oget her . We have t o t ake chances. Take r i sks.
We have t o get act i ve and r eal l y do somet hi ng, i nst ead of j ust si t t i ng at home
pl ayi ng Xbox. Thi s i sn t a game. We can t def eat t he enemy by hi t t i ng t hemwi t h our
super l aser guns.
We want our pl anet back.
Ki ds mat t er . We r e i mpor t ant . Our f ut ur e i s i mpor t ant .
ARE YOU WI TH ME?

95
The Gasman f i ni shed r eadi ng over Fang s shoul der .
I wi sh I had an Xbox, he sai d. Fang r ol l ed hi s eyes.
Cool message, dude, sai d Mi ke. I f eel l i ke j umpi ng up and st ar t i ng a r al l y. Now
what ?
Now, sai d Fang, st ar t i ng t o t ype anot her message, we go t o Ger many.
He i gnor ed t he way hi s hear t t humped when he t hought about seei ng her - t hemagai n.
I f she st i l l had t he cr et i n wi t h her , he was goi ng t o be pi ssed. But cr et i n or no,
spl i t t i ng up t he f l ock was wr ong. I f t he wor l d was comi ng t o an end, t hey needed t o
be t oget her .
Page 72
To: Max
Fr om: Fang
Subj ect : Yo
Yo, Max. We r e on our way. Thi s bet t er not be a j oke. Fang.
He cl i cked t he Send but t on.

96
You know t hat ol d sayi ng When l i f e gi ves you l emons, make l emonade? Wel l , we
wer e chai ned i n a dungeon i n Ger many, my mot her was a power - hungr y, psychot i c
r ef r i ger at or , and my best f r i end and hal f my f l ock wer e MI A.
These wer e def i ni t el y l emons, so I t hought about t hat sayi ng.
And you know what ? Whoever coi ned t he phr ase ought t o have been smacked sensel ess.
I mean, how l amebr ai ned was t hat ? Li f e t ot al l y messi ng you up? J ust t ur n t hat f r own
upsi de down! What a mor on!
Max? You r e mut t er i ng agai n. Nudge sounded t i r ed.
I l ooked at her . Sor r y. I si ghed and got t o my f eet . We wer e each now chai ned t o
t he wal l by one ankl e. Our chai ns wer e about ei ght f eet l ong, so we coul d wal k
ar ound. See? My momhad a sof t hear t af t er al l ! I nst ead of bei ng chai ned by bot h
wr i st s, we wer e onl y chai ned by one ankl e!
I mean, i f I d been l ooki ng f or pr oof t hat she r eal l y di d l ove me, t hi s was i t ,
r i ght ?
Tot al r eached out and ver y gent l y cl osed hi s t eet h ar ound my ankl e as I went past .
Mut t er i ng, he sai d.
Sor r y. I moved as f ar away as my chai n al l owed.
I was maki ng t he ki ds cr azy wi t h my bar el y suppr essed r age and di sappoi nt ment . And
her e s t he ki cker : I had asked Fang f or hel p. I had asked hi mt o come back because I
needed hi m. My st omach chur ned j ust t hi nki ng about i t . That was me: Maxi mumRi de,
Damsel i n Di st r ess.
I know t hi s wi l l sur pr i se you, but I don t damsel wel l . Di st r ess, I can do.
Damsel i ng? Not so much.
I don t r emember you mut t er i ng t hi s much, bef or e, Ar i sai d, cr ouchi ng next t o
me.
I was a l i t t l e saner t hen, I sai d.
Oh. He t r aced a f i nger t hr ough t he gr i me on t he f l oor . Suddenl y I r emember ed hi m
sayi ng, I can t r ead.
Knowi ng he was wat chi ng me, I sl owl y dr ew t he l et t er A on t he f l oor , maki ng l i t t l e
t r ai l s t hr ough t he di r t . Then I dr ew an R. And an I .
That spel l s Ar i , I t ol d hi m. I dr ew i t agai n, sl owl y. A. . . R. . . I . Now you do
i t .
He st ar t ed t he A, t hen st opped. What s t he poi nt ? he asked, and I was st ung
because he was r i ght . He di dn t have much t i me l ef t . Di d i t r eal l y mat t er i f he knew
how t o r ead?
You shoul d know how t o wr i t e your name, I sai d f i r ml y, pushi ng hi s hand t owar d
t he f l oor agai n. Come on. Fi r st A.
Concent r at i ng, Ar i dr agged one r agged cl aw t hr ough t he di r t . He made a r i cket y,
asymmet r i cal A.
A dr unk monkey coul d do bet t er , but you l l get t her e, I sai d. Do t he R.
He st ar t ed on t he R, f i r st dr awi ng i t backwar d. I di dn t know i f t hi s was nor mal
f or hi s age or whet her hi s br ai n had been af f ect ed by al l t he exper i ment s done on
hi m. I r ubbed i t out and showed hi mhow t o do i t cor r ect l y.
J eb had t aught me and Fang t o r ead. I d t aught Gazzy and Nudge and Angel . We wer e
a l i t t l e shaky wi t h spel l i ng and gr ammar somet i mes, but al l of us coul d f or ge
si gnat ur es l i ke a pr o. He hadn t t aught hi s own son.
How come you r e doi ng t hi s? Ar i s hesi t ant quest i on caught me of f guar d.
Uh- t o make up f or al most ki l l i ng you i n New Yor k?
Ar i di dn t l ook at me. You di d ki l l me, he sai d. They br ought me back. Fused
some of t he bones i n my neck. He r an a meat y paw over hi s neck as i f i t st i l l
pai ned hi m.
I msor r y, I sai d. I can count on t he f i nger s of one hand how many t i mes t hose
wor ds have passed my l i ps. And t hr ee of t hemhad been i n t he l ast f i ve mi nut es. You
Page 73
wer e t r yi ng t o ki l l me f i r st .
He nodded. I hat ed you, he sai d cal ml y. Dad gave you ever yt hi ng, he r eal l y
l oved you. I was hi s son, and I di dn t mean anyt hi ng t o hi m. You wer e so st r ong and
per f ect and beaut i f ul . I j ust hat ed you. Want ed you dead. And he used t hat . He used
me as par t of your t est i ng.
I was r at t l ed. Ar i seemed so mat t er - of - f act . He was pr oud of you, I sai d,
dr edgi ng up memor i es of a l ong t i me ago, bef or e J eb had st ol en me and t he r est of
t he f l ock out of t he l ab. He l i ked you f ol l owi ng hi mar ound i n t he l ab.
You never even not i ced me, Ar i sai d, sl owl y t r aci ng t he I i n hi s name.
I di d, I sai d, t hi nki ng back. You wer e a cut e l i t t l e boy. I used t o be so
j eal ous of you because you wer e hi s son. You bel onged t o hi mi n a way t hat I di dn t
bel ong t o anyone. I want ed t o be per f ect so J eb woul d l ove me.
Even as I sai d t he wor ds, I was j ust r eal i zi ng t hemmysel f . Ar i l ooked up at me,
sur pr i sed. I r ocked back on my heel s, f aci ng t hese pai nf ul t r ut hs. I t was l i ke Dr .
Phi l had appar at ed r i ght i nt o our dungeon.
I knew I was a f r eak, I sai d sof t l y. I had wi ngs. I l i ved i n a dog cr at e. But
you wer e a r egul ar l i t t l e boy. You wer e J eb s r eal son. I kept t hi nki ng, I f I m
st r ong enough, i f I do ever yt hi ng he t el l s me, i f I mt he best at ever yt hi ng, t hen
maybe J eb wi l l l ove me t oo. I l ooked down at my new boot s, al r eady dul l wi t h di r t .
I was so, so happy when he st ol e us f r omt he l ab. My t hr oat got t i ght ,
r emember i ng. I di dn t t hi nk i t coul d l ast . I was af r ai d. But I was happy t hat I was
goi ng t o di e away f r omt he l ab. Not i n a dog cr at e. And t hen i t went on. No one
f ound us. J eb t ook car e of us, t aught us st uf f , how t o sur vi ve. I t was al most l i ke a
nor mal l i f e, l i ke nor mal ki ds. And you know, Ar i , I sai d, I was so happy t o be
gone, so happy t o have J eb, t hat I di dn t even t hi nk about t he l i t t l e boy he d l ef t
behi nd. I guess I j ust t hought you wer e wi t h your momor somet hi ng.
Ar i nodded, and af t er a moment he swal l owed and cl ear ed hi s t hr oat . I don t have
a mom.
I t s not what i t s cr acked up t o be, I sai d, and he smi l ed.
I under st and now, he sai d. I t wasn t your f aul t . You wer e j ust a ki d, l i ke me.
I t wasn t ei t her of our f aul t s.
I pr essed my l i ps t oget her har d, det er mi ned not t o make poi gnant t ear st r eaks down
my no doubt f i l t hy f ace.
I saw a Shakespear e movi e on TV once, I sai d. The guy sai d somet hi ng l i ke,
Anyone who f i ght s wi t h me t oday i s my br ot her . So- i f you f i ght wi t h me t oday. . .
He smi l ed agai n and nodded, under st andi ng. Then we hugged, of cour se, because t he
Hal l mar k moment woul dn t be compl et e wi t hout i t .

97
Not l ong af t er t he Hal l mar k commer ci al , sever al Fl yboys appear ed i n t he dungeon
and moved us- t o somewher e even wor se.
Thi s i s gr eat , I sai d, r adi at i ng si ncer i t y. I l ove what you ve done wi t h t he
pl ace. Real l y.
The t hi ng about sar casmi s t hat i t s l ost on r obot s, l i ke Fl yboys, f or exampl e.
But I coul d al ways hope t hat t hey had voi ce- act i vat ed r ecor der s on t hemand t hat
l at er t hey d be pl ayi ng my sni de message back t o Cr azy Ol d Mom.
The Fl yboys t ur ned, r ot or s hummi ng, and st al ked away. No sense of humor .
Nudge, Angel , Tot al , Ar i , and I sur veyed our change of scener y.
Let s see, I sai d. Hi gh st one wal l s, l i f el ess span of gr i t , mut ant s mar chi ng
ar ound. . . I don t know- I mt hi nki ng i t says pr i son yar d. How about you guys?
Pr i son yar d sums i t up, Tot al agr eed, t hen t r ot t ed of f t o pee on t he wal l .
Pr i son yar d i s t oo good f or t hi s, sai d Nudge. Li ke, cheer l ess, j oy- sucki ng
pl ai n of despai r woul d be mor e l i ke i t .
I l ooked at her i n admi r at i on. Ni ce! You ve been r eadi ng t he di ct i onar y agai n,
haven t you?
Nudge bl ushed happi l y.
Look! Ther e I go, Angel sai d, poi nt i ng. Twent y yar ds away, her cl one r ambl ed
about wi t h t he ot her s, l ooki ng mor e l i ke Angel t han Angel di d. About t wo hundr ed
bei ngs wer e i n what used t o be t he cast l e st abl e ar ea, I guessed. No one was
t al ki ng. Most l y t hey wer e shuf f l i ng i n a l ar ge, cl ockwi se ci r cl e, get t i ng t hei r
exer ci se. They seemed so much l i ke a mi ndl ess school of f i sh, or per haps a f l ock
of sheep, t hat I want ed t o r un t hr ough t hem, shout i ng, t o see i f t hey d scat t er .
Do you see me? Nudge asked, peer i ng t hr ough t he cr owd.
Page 74
I st i l l can t bel i eve I don t have a cl one, Tot al huf f ed, t r ot t i ng back.
You r e undupl i cat abl e, I sai d.
I doubt i t , he sai d. I mean, maybe i t woul dn t t al k, maybe i t woul d j ust go
ar f , but st i l l . Li ke, what , t hey coul dn t bot her ?
Ar f ? I sai d.
Oh, t her e I am! sai d Nudge, up on her t i pt oes. I see t he ot her me has hai r
i ssues t oo.
Why woul d t hey make cl ones of us? I wonder ed out l oud.
You. The met al l i c voi ce had no i nf l ect i on. We spun t o see a Fl yboy behi nd us.
Yes, C- Thr eepi o? I sai d pol i t el y.
Wal k. The Fl yboy poi nt ed at t he t hr ong, t hen t ook a st ep t owar d us.
Wel l , you don t have t o t hr eat en me t wi ce. We qui ckl y headed i nt o t he cr owd and
st ar t ed paci ng al ong wi t h t he r est of t hem.
I was keepi ng my eye out f or Max I I , who, l ast t i me I d had a cl ose encount er wi t h
her , had been t r yi ng t o ki l l me and had nar r owl y escaped bei ng ki l l ed by me. I n case
she wasn t a l et bygones be bygones ki nd of gal , I was br aced f or t he wor st .
So i s t hi s what pr i sons wi l l be l i ke af t er Re- Evol ut i on? Angel asked, hol di ng my
hand. Wi t h t he col l ar s and ever yt hi ng? She r ubbed t he one ar ound her neck, i t s
gr een LED bl i nki ng ever y t wo seconds.
I guess so, I sai d, r esi st i ng t he ur ge t o t ug at my own col l ar . I guess t hey
have t hese t hi ngs r i gged up t o shock us i f we t r y t o escape. They pr obabl y have
t r acer s i n t hemt oo. Whi ch was why we hadn t done an up- and- away as soon as we got
out her e.
How come t hey l l st i l l have pr i sons, af t er hal f of ever yone i s dead? Nudge
asked. I t hought peopl e woul d qui t f i ght i ng f or st uf f . I t hought t he f ut ur e peopl e
woul d be per f ect . I f t hey r e per f ect , t hey won t go ar ound commi t t i ng cr i mes, wi l l
t hey?
Ther e, I sai d. Decades of psycho l ogi c pi cked apar t i n t hr ee seconds by an
el even- year - ol d. Take t hat , moder n sci ence!
And speaki ng of moder n sci ence, I was about t o be conf r ont ed by one of i t s
mar vel s. Or di sast er s. Al l depends on your poi nt of vi ew.
Max.
I t ur ned qui ckl y at t he t oo- f ami l i ar voi ce. And t her e I was, pr et t y as heck, br own
eyes, a f ew f r eckl es, f ashi on chal l enged, and a bad at t i t ude. Max I I .

98
Gosh, I sai d. I t s l i ke l ooki ng i n a mi r r or .
Yeah, she sai d. Except I ve had a bat h r ecent l y.
Touché . So, me, how s t r i cks?
What ar e you doi ng her e?
Sel l i ng Gi r l Scout cooki es, I sai d. Want some? The Samoas ar e t er r i f i c.
Max I I st ar t ed wal ki ng next t o us, and we kept pace wi t h t he cr owd, movi ng i n a
bi g oval ar ound t he bar r en yar d. I st ayed on guar d, i n case she suddenl y at t acked
me.
Baa, Nudge bl eat ed. Baaa.
I l aughed, and Max I I l ooked at me. How can you l augh? She gest ur ed angr i l y at
t he wal l s, t he guar d t ower s, t he ar med Fl yboys t hat st ood ar ound l i ke
r emot e- cont r ol l ed puppet s.
Wel l , she baaed l i ke a sheep, I sai d. I t was pr et t y f unny. I pat t ed Nudge s
head. Especi al l y wi t h her l amby hai r . Maybe I shoul d cal l her Lamby f r omnow on.
Nudge gr i nned, and Max I I got angr i er . Don t you r eal i ze what s goi ng on? Wher e
we ar e?
Uh, a honki ng bi g cast l e of evi l i n Ger many? I of f er ed. I ve nar r owed i t down
t hat f ar .
Max I I gl anced ar ound, as i f maki ng sur e we wer en t over hear d. Si nce we wer e
shoul der t o shoul der wi t h a coupl e hundr ed ot her peopl e, i t was ki nd of a wast ed
gest ur e.
Thi s i s t he l ast st oppi ng pl ace, she sai d under her br eat h, not l ooki ng at me.
Look ar ound. We r e al l r ej ect s. They wer e t r yi ng t o bui l d an ar my out of us, but
t hen t hey got t he Fl yboys t o wor k. Now we r e obsol et e. And ever y day, a bunch of us
di sappear .
I st udi ed her . I msor r y- di d I mi ss somet hi ng? Last t i me I saw you, you wer e
t r yi ng t o ki l l me. Ar e we f r i ends now? Di d I mi ss t he memo? Now you r e cl uei ng me i n
Page 75
on t he si t ch?
I f you r e agai nst t hem, t hen we r e on t he same si de, Max I I sai d f i r ml y.
She coul d have t ot al l y been l yi ng, of cour se. I n f act , i t was saf est t o assume
t hat she was. But her wor ds wer e al l t oo l i kel y t o be t he t r ut h.
How l ong have you been her e? I asked her .
She l ooked away. Si nce Fl or i da. They. . . wer e r eal l y mad t hat I l et you beat me.
You di dn t l et me do squat , I sai d.
Si ghi ng, she gave a br i ef nod. I was supposed t o wi n. I was supposed t o f i ni sh
you of f . They never count ed on you wi nni ng. And t hen you di dn t ki l l me. I t was
awf ul .
You r e wel come, I sai d, f eel i ng f r esh anger i gni t e. I l l t r y not t o humi l i at e
you by l et t i ng you l i ve next t i me.
Max I I l ooked at me sadl y, and i t r eal l y was cr eepy; so much l i ke l ooki ng i n a
mi r r or t hat I f el t my f ace t r y t o assume t he same expr essi on, so we d mat ch.
Ther e won t be a next t i me, she sai d. I mt el l i ng you, t hi s i s t he l ast st op.
They br ought us her e t o ki l l us.
Yeah, I get t hat a l ot , I sai d.
You don t under st and, Max I I sai d, agi t at ed. We r e al l sl at ed t o di e. Ever y
day, mor e of us di sappear . When I f i r st came her e, t hi s yar d was so f ul l , we had t o
t ake shi f t s. Ther e wer e t housands of us. Now t hi s i s al l t hat s l ef t .
Hmm, I sai d.
Wi t h t hi s many of us, I guess we have unt i l . . . maybe t omor r ow, she sai d, l ooki ng
ar ound, ment al l y cal cul at i ng.
Okay, t hi s was not soundi ng good. I t hought we d have a coupl e days t o r egr oup,
f i nd a way out of t hi s. I f Max I I wasn t l yi ng, t hen I needed t o st ep up our t i me
f r ame i n a bi g way. I f Max I I was l yi ng, I st i l l had no r eason t o want t o hang
ar ound.
We cont i nued t o shuf f l e i n bi g ci r cl es, and now bot h Nudge and Tot al wer e baai ng
occasi onal l y. I was deep i n t hought , t r yi ng t o come up wi t h one of my t ypi cal l y
br i l l i ant pl ans, when a mut ant bumped i nt o me f or a spl i t second, t hen moved away.
I t l ef t somet hi ng i n my hand.
A pi ece of paper .
Ver y, ver y sur r ept i t i ousl y, I unf ol ded i t and gl anced down. I t was a not e, and i t
sai d: Fang on hi s way wi t h f l ock. Says i t bet t er not be a j oke.
I nsi de me, a har d knot of t ensi on t hat I hadn t even known I had seemed t o
unr avel . Oh, God. Fang was comi ng. I woul d have been mor e suspi ci ous, but t he i t
had bet t er not be a j oke t hi ng coul d onl y have come f r omhi m.
Fang was on t he way. Wi t h I ggy and Gazzy. We woul d al l be t oget her agai n.
Max? What s wr ong? Nudge l ooked at me wi t h concer n. You r e cr yi ng.
I t ouched my cheek t o f i nd t hat I was cr yi ng, t ear s st r eaki ng down my f ace. I
wi ped t hemaway on my sl eeve and snuf f l ed. I was t oo happy t o speak f or a moment .
Fang s comi ng t o hel p us, I sai d under my br eat h, l ooki ng st r ai ght ahead. He s
on hi s way.

99
We al l exer ci sed i n t he Yar d of Despai r f or anot her hal f hour . My mi nd was
spi nni ng- knowi ng Fang was on hi s way had gi ven me a j ol t of adr enal i ne. I wonder ed
when he had l ef t . I wonder ed i f I woul d be abl e t o bear i t i f Fang s message was al l
anot her t est , i f i t wasn t r eal .
On t he ot her hand, somet i mes a happy del usi on i s bet t er t han gr i mr eal i t y.
I n t he meant i me, I t ook baby st eps behi nd t he mut ant i n f r ont of me, hol di ng
Angel s hand, f eel i ng Tot al s l i t t l e si de br ushi ng agai nst my l eg f r omt i me t o t i me.
And I st ar t ed wat chi ng and l i st eni ng mor e i nt ent l y. I d t hought t he mut ant s wer e
si l ent , but now I began t o pi ck up on t hi ngs t hey wer e sayi ng so sof t l y t hat t he
wor ds al most got l ost i n t he dr y shuf f l i ng noi se of t hei r boot s agai nst t he gr i t .
I t apped Nudge s hand and nodded my head at t he cr owd. Angel l ooked up at me,
f eel i ng my i nt ent i on, and st ar t ed payi ng at t ent i on al so.
Li ke a pr i son, t he mut ant s wer e mur mur i ng, as sof t l y as t he wi nd. Unf ai r . Li ed t o
us. So many of us gone. Don t want t o di sappear . Don t want t o be r et i r ed. What t o
do? Ther e ar e so many of t hem. Too many of t hem. Thi s i s a pr i son. A pr i son of
deat h. Unf ai r . I di d not hi ng wr ong. Except exi st .
I moved sl owl y t hr ough t he cr owd, l i st eni ng t o t he mur mur s, t he messages. Angel
was pi cki ng up on t hei r t hought s. I saw her bl ue eyes become t r oubl ed wi t h her new
Page 76
knowl edge.
By t he t i me a st r i dent el ect r oni c buzzer t ol d us t o go back i nsi de, I had f or med a
semi cl ear pi ct ur e of t he gr oup s emot i ons. They di dn t want t hi s t o happen t o
t hemwhat had happened t o t hei r f el l ow i nmat es. They wi shed t hey coul d change
t hi ngs. Some of t hemwer e r eal l y angr y and want ed t o f i ght , but t hey di dn t know
how. I guessed t hei r f i ght i ng i nst i nct s had been engi neer ed out of t hem. Most l y,
t hey wer e conf used and di sor gani zed.
Whi ch i s wher e a- ahem- l eader woul d come i n.
My pl ans wer e st ar t i ng t o per col at e as I mar ched wi t h t he ot her s back i nt o t he
f ant asy wor l d of mad sci ent i st s, and t hat pl us t he knowl edge t hat Fang was on hi s
way made me al most cheer f ul .
Unt i l t hr ee Fl yboys st epped i n f r ont of me, Angel , Nudge, Ar i , and Tot al , poi nt i ng
guns at us.
I gr oaned. What now?
You come wi t h us, t hey i nt oned, as i f one.
Why? I asked bel l i ger ent l y.
Becuss I vant t o t al k t o you, sai d our ol d pal t er Bor cht , st eppi ng out f r om
behi nd t hem. Vun l ast t i me.

100
We wer e pr odded t hr ough l ong, wi ndi ng st one cor r i dor s i n t he bowel s of t he cast l e,
occasi onal l y t r i ppi ng on t he uneven st one f l oor . I f el t as t hough I d been chi l l y
f or days and r ubbed Angel s and Nudge s ar ms t o hel p t hemkeep war mi n t he dank
chi l l .
I hat e t hi s guy, Ar i mut t er ed, keepi ng hi s head down.
Ther e s a cl ub, I t ol d hi m. The Hat er s of t er Bor cht Cl ub. Have you got t en your
badge yet ?
Fi nal l y we wer e pushed i nt o a- come on, you can guess- yes: a whi t e, st er i l e- l ooki ng
l abl i ke r oomf i l l ed wi t h t abl es hol di ng schmancy, no doubt expensi ve sci ence
equi pment t hat I l onged t o st ar t whacki ng wi t h a basebal l bat .
Once we wer e i n, t he door s sl ammed shut behi nd us, and sever al Fl yboys st ood i n
f r ont of t hem, guns r eady.
The meet i ng of t he Hat er s of t er Bor cht Cl ub wi l l now come t o or der , I mur mur ed.
Nudge swal l owed a snor t , and Angel pr oj ect ed a gr i n i nt o my head. Can you do
anyt hi ng wi t h hi m? I sent her i n a di r ect ed t hought .
No, came her r egr et f ul r epl y. I get st uf f f r omhi m- awf ul , scar y, di sgust i ng st uf f ,
but I can t seemt o send anyt hi ng i n.
Whi ch messed up Pl an A.
So! sai d t er Bor cht , comi ng t owar d us. I vass ver r y di sappoi nt ed dat you ar e
not dead by now!
Vee f eel de same vay about you! I sai d, cr ossi ng my ar ms over my chest .
Hi s eyes nar r owed. Real l y, somet i mes I i mpr ess even me.
But I don t t i nk I vi l l haf t o vai t dat much l onger , he sai d. Maybe by di nner ,
yah? I n de meant i me, some peopl e vant t o t al k t o you.
Thi s ought t a be good, I whi sper ed.
Fi ve bucks says t hey r e sci ent i st s, Tot al whi sper ed back.
No ki ddi ng.
The door s swung open behi nd us, and a t eamof f i ve peopl e wal ked i n. They wer e
Chi nese? I wasn t sur e.
Tsk, sai d Tot al . Last season s whi t e l ab coat s. So t acky.
How can you t el l ? I asked, not bot her i ng t o l ower my voi ce.
Thi s year s has smal l er pocket s and wi der l apel s. Thei r coat s ar e so. . . I don t
know. Revenge of t he Ner ds?
The f i ve Asi an whi t ecoat s l ooked conf used, and t er Bor cht pr act i cal l y had st eam
comi ng out hi s ear s.
Enuf f ! he snapped, cl appi ng hi s hands t oget her har d. Dey vi l l ask you
qvest i ons. You vi l l answer . Ar e ve cl ear ?
Cl ear as pea soup! I sai d.
I f t er Bor cht coul d have hi t me, he woul d have. I guess he di dn t want t o do i t i n
f r ont of t he Cl ean Team.
I nst ead, pur pl e i n t he f ace, he st al ked behi nd hi s desk and sat down, angr i l y
shuf f l i ng paper s. The Cl ean Teamcame cl oser , l ooki ng at us cur i ousl y, as i f we wer e
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a zoo exhi bi t . Gee, I haven t f el t l i ke t hat bef or e.
We st ayed qui et , but i nsi de I was get t i ng mor e and mor e t ense. I coul d t ake al l
f i ve of t hese yahoos out by mysel f , I t hought . And t er Bor cht t oo, as a bonus. Not
t o ment i on t he Fl yboy guar ds, guns and al l . What st opped me? My col l ar . For al l I
knew, al l he had t o do was pr ess a but t on, and I woul d dr op t o t he gr ound,
el ect r ocut ed.
The Asi an sci ent i st s t al ked sof t l y among t hemsel ves. I r emember ed hear i ng t hat
some count r y had want ed t o buy us, t o use as weapons somehow. I know, I know, i t
sounds t ot al l y l oony, a chi l d woul dn t bel i eve i t , but you have no i dea how
i ncr edi bl y st upi d t he war guys can be.
Sl owl y t he whi t ecoat s wal ked ar ound me, Nudge, and Angel , seemi ng t o mar vel at how
i ncr edi bl y l i f el i ke we wer e. Tot al t hey i gnor ed compl et el y. When t hey l ooked at Ar i ,
t hey coul dn t di sgui se t hei r di smay. I d got t en so used t o hi s appear ance t hat i t
di dn t r egi st er on me anymor e. Ar i di dn t l ook human, di dn t l ook l i ke an Er aser . He
j ust l ooked l i ke a mi st ake.
Hi s f ace f l ushed as he caught t hei r expr essi ons, and I f el t r eal l y sor r y f or hi m.
He d gone f r ombei ng a cut e t hr ee- year - ol d ki d t o bei ng a hul ki ng pat chwor k monst er
wi t hi n f our shor t year s. He knew what he l ooked l i ke, knew he was dyi ng, and he
di dn t under st and why any of i t had happened.

101
Take a pi ct ur e, i t l l l ast l onger , I t ol d t he whi t ecoat s, and t hey al most j umped
when I spoke, st ar i ng at me wi t h new cur i osi t y.
Ah, hal l o, one guy sai d i n heavi l y accent ed Engl i sh. We wi l l ask you some
quest i ons, okay?
I r ol l ed my eyes, and t hey mur mur ed exci t edl y among t hemsel ves.
You have a name, yes? he sai d, pen r eady over hi s cl i pboar d.
Yes, I sai d. My name i s seven- f i veni ne- ni ne- t hr ee- ni ne- ex- dash- one. J uni or . I
hear d t er Bor cht hi ss over at hi s desk, but he st ayed out of i t .
The whi t ecoat l ooked at me i n conf usi on, t hen t ur ned t o Nudge. What i s your
name?
Nudge t hought . J essi ca, she deci ded. J essi ca Mi r anda Al i ci a Tanger i ne
But t er f l y. She l ooked pl eased wi t h her name, and smi l ed at me.
The whi t ecoat s mur mur ed among t hemsel ves agai n, and I hear d one of t hemwhi sper ,
But t er f l y?
They t ur ned t o Angel . We wi l l cal l you Li t t l e One, t he l eader sai d, obvi ousl y
deci di ng t o di spense wi t h t he whol e conf usi ng name t hi ng.
Okay, Angel sai d agr eeabl y. I l l cal l you Guy i n a Whi t e Lab Coat . He f r owned.
That can be hi s I ndi an name, I suggest ed.
One of t he ot her ones spoke up. Tel l us about your sense of di r ect i on. How does
i t wor k? They al l l ooked at me expect ant l y.
Wel l , i t s l i ke I have a GPS i nsi de me, I t ol d t hem. One of t he t al ki ng ones. I
t el l i t wher e I want t o go, and i t t el l s me, Go t went y mi l es, t ur n l ef t , t ake Exi t
Ni net y- f our , and so on. I t can be pr et t y bossy, f r ankl y.
Thei r eyes wi dened. Real l y? sai d one.
No, you i di ot , I sai d i n di sgust . I don t know how i t wor ks. I j ust know i t has
an unf ai l i ng abi l i t y t o poi nt me i n t he opposi t e di r ect i on of a bunch of boneheads.
Now t hey l ooked a l i t t l e i r r i t at ed. I gave t hemanot her , say, f i ve mi nut es bef or e
t hey cr acked and t hi s i nt er vi ew came t o an exci t i ng end.
How hi gh can you f l y? one asked abr upt l y.
I mnot sur e. Let me check my t ummy al t i met er . I l ooked down and pul l ed up my
sweat shi r t a coupl e i nches. That s f unny. I t was her e t hi s mor ni ng. . . .
As hi gh as a pl ane? Guy i n a Whi t e Lab Coat snapped.
Hi gher , sai d Nudge. They whi r l ed on her .
Hi gher t han a pl ane? one asked eager l y.
Nudge nodded conf i dent l y. Yep. We can go so hi gh t hat we can t even hear t he
r ubber band maki ng t he l i t t l e pr opel l er go ar ound- t hwi p, t hwi p, t hwi p. She made a
ci r cl i ng mot i on wi t h one f i nger . She f r owned. You meant a t oy pl ane, r i ght ?
Ter Bor cht expl oded t o hi s f eet . Enuf f ! You vi l l get nover e vi s dese f ai l ur es!
Now, now, Bor chy, I sai d. These ni ce peopl e came al l t hi s way t o t al k t o us.
They know we can f l y r eal l y hi gh. They know we can al ways f i nd our way, even i n t he
dar k. They know we can go f ast er t han, l i ke, a hundr ed mi l es an hour . I msur e t hey
want t o know mor e about us. Let s j ust dangl e a car r ot and see what t hey do, I
Page 78
t hought . I t woul d be my l i t t l e sci ence exper i ment .
The f i ve whi t ecoat s wer e busy scr i bbl i ng down t hese t i dbi t s. Ter Bor cht , l ooki ng
f ur i ous, sat down heavi l y.
You know, Bor chy, I sai d i n a l oud whi sper , you mi ght want t o l ay of f t he f r i ed
f oods. I pat t ed my st omach, t hen poi nt ed t o hi s much, much bi gger one. I wi nked at
hi mand t hen f aced t he quest i oner s ser i ousl y. I guess you guys al so know t hat we
need l ot s of f uel t o keep goi ng. Ever y t wo hour s. St uf f l i ke mi l kshakes, doughnut s,
chi cken nugget s, st eak, f r ench f r i es, uh. . .
Hambur ger s, sai d Angel . And car r ot cake and past r ami and, um, Fr ench br ead
and-
Waf f l es, sai d Nudge. And baked pot at oes wi t h cheese and bacon. And mor e bacon
by i t sel f . And peanut but t er sandwi ches and Sni cker s bar s and r oot beer an -
Hoagi es, sai d Ar i i n hi s r ust y voi ce. They l ooked at hi m, st ar t l ed, as i f t hey
hadn t f i gur ed hi mcapabl e of speech.
Then t he f i ve whi t ecoat s huddl ed and t al ked exci t edl y among t hemsel ves whi l e I
wi ggl ed my eyebr ows at my f l ock and got hopef ul about a maj or snack headed our way.
You don t need t o eat , t er Bor cht sai d mor e cal ml y. You ar e dyi ng soon anyvay.
The head whi t ecoat went over t o hi mand t al ked, and t er Bor cht st ar t ed l ooki ng
angr y agai n. I hear d hi msay, No! I t s t oo l at e.
Why can t you get i nt o t hei r heads? I whi sper ed ver y sof t l y t o Angel . Make em
see ant s ever ywher e or somet hi ng.
I don t know, Angel sai d, di sappoi nt ed. I j ust f eel . . . shut out . I t s l i ke I
st ar t t o get i n and t hen I get pushed out agai n.
Now I mr eal l y hungr y, Nudge whi sper ed.
Me t oo, sai d Ar i .
Me t hr ee, whi sper ed Tot al . I mr eady t o eat one of t hem.
The r est of us made eew f aces, but t hen t he door t o t he l ab opened, and ever yone
t ur ned t o l ook.
I t was Mom. And f r ankl y, she di dn t l ook t hat happy t o see me.

102
Mom- Mar i an J anssen- gr eet ed t he Chi nese sci ent i st s war ml y, so I f i gur ed t hey wer e
of f er i ng her a bi g chunk of change t o buy us as weapons.
Ar e you f i ndi ng out t he i nf or mat i on you need? she asked. Ter Bor cht snor t ed
l oudl y over at hi s desk, and she cast hi ma gl ance.
Ar e t hey cooper at i ng? Mar i an asked t he r oomi n gener al .
What do you t hi nk? I asked, j ust as Guy i n a Whi t e Lab Coat sai d, No.
Mar i an t ook out a PDA. I t ol d you I had much of t hi s i nf or mat i on, but I
under st ood t hat you want ed t o i nt er vi ew t hemyour sel ves. Now, what do you need t o
know?
How f ast can t hey f l y? asked one.
Mar i an cl i cked her PDA. Max, her e, she sai d, gest ur i ng t o me, has exceeded t wo
hundr ed mi l es an hour , st r ai ght on, and upwar d of t wo hundr ed si xt y mi l es an hour i n
a st eep di ve.
The sci ent i st s l ooked i mpr essed. I st ar t ed t o f eel an i cy chi l l cr eep down my
back.
How hi gh can t hey f l y? anot her one asked.
Max has been document ed at al t i t udes of appr oxi mat el y t hi r t y- one t housand f eet
f or shor t per i ods of t i me. Her oxygen consumpt i on i ncr eased appr opr i at el y but
cr eat ed no har dshi p. Her nor mal cr ui si ng al t i t ude i s usual l y bet ween f i f t een
t housand and t went y- t wo t housand f eet .
Agai n t he sci ent i st s l ooked i mpr essed and made not es. One ent er ed t hi ngs i nt o a
cal cul at or , t hen whi sper ed r esul t s t o t he ot her s.
I f el t Nudge s and Angel s eyes on me, but I had a si nki ng f eel i ng i nsi de and
di dn t want t o l ook at t hem. I was bet t i ng t hat Spy Momhad got t en al l t hi s
i nf or mat i on f r ommy chi p, t he one I d had Dr . Mar t i nez t ake out .
The head guy l ooked at me specul at i vel y. How much wei ght can t hey car r y?
We bel i eve t hey can car r y up t o f our - f i f t hs of t hei r own body wei ght f or per i ods
of up t o an hour , sai d Mar i an. And one- hal f of t hei r body wei ght al most
i ndef i ni t el y.
Li ke our backpacks, f or exampl e.
How much body f at do t hey have? asked one of t hem. Do t hey swi mwel l ?
I deci ded t o keep my mout h shut about Angel s abi l i t y t o br eat he under wat er .
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We bel i eve t hey have nor mal swi mmi ng abi l i t i es but wi t h gr eat l y i ncr eased
endur ance, sai d Mar i an, cool as a pol ar bear s nose. Thei r body f at i s ext r emel y
l ow. Max i s f i ve- ei ght but wei ghs bar el y a hundr ed pounds. Of t hat wei ght , ext r emel y
l i t t l e i s f at or bone. Most l y she s made of muscl e.
She s made of muscl e. Li ke I was a ki t t hat had been put t oget her .
Okay, I get i t . Shut up.
But t hey can swi m? They don t si nk? asked one.
Mar i an shook her head. Thei r bones ar e ext r emel y l i ght and por ous, f i l l ed wi t h
t i ny ai r pocket s. I n addi t i on t o t hei r l ungs, t hey have per i pher al ai r sacs al ong
each si de. They don t si nk.
Okay, t hi s i s st upi d, I sai d i n a bor ed t one. Ther e s no poi nt i n di scussi ng
t hi s- except t hat i t shows how cl ear l y you need t o get a l i f e- because t her e s no way
we r e goi ng t o be weapons f or anyone.
That s r i ght , sai d Nudge. I mnot car r yi ng bombs or assassi nat i ng anyone!
That s r i ght . We have st andar ds, mi ssy!
You l l do what we t el l you, sai d Mar i an chi l l i ngl y. I msur e we can f i nd some
way t o mot i vat e you.
I nst ant l y I t hought t hat i f t hey wer e hur t i ng one of t he ot her s, I woul d do j ust
about anyt hi ng t o st op i t .
Agai n, i nf or mat i on bet t er kept t o mysel f .
I have t o t el l you, we don t wor k cheap, I t ol d t he Chi nese sci ent i st s. We l l
need ser i ous bl i ng, bi g- scr een TVs, vacat i ons i n Hawai i , and t he best cheesebur ger s
t hat money can buy. For st ar t er s.
They nodded eager l y, t hr i l l ed at my gi vi ng i n, whi ch, f r ankl y, was pat het i c. I
mean, don t t hey have cyni cs i n Chi na? Cl ear l y t hese guys wer e not t he br i ght est
cr ayons i n t he box.

103
Okay, enough! t he Di r ect or snapped. Tur ni ng t o t he sci ent i st s, she sai d, We can
get you any ot her i nf or mat i on you need. I n t he meant i me, we r e goi ng t o wor k on a
ser i ous at t i t ude adj ust ment .
Basi cal l y, I have t wo speeds, I t ol d t hem. Host i l e or smar t - al eck. Your
choi ce.
I gnor i ng me, Momusher ed t he whi t ecoat s out t he door .
That wasn t cl ever , she sai d, t ur ni ng back t o me. Your sur vi val depends on your
ext r eme cooper at i on.
Der e i ss no sur vi val ! t er Bor cht sai d angr i l y, st andi ng up. Dey ar e dead!
She i gnor ed hi mt oo.
You wer e desi gned t o be ver y smar t , Max, she t ol d me. We el ect r i cal l y
st i mul at ed your synapt i c ner ve endi ngs whi l e your br ai n was devel opi ng.
And yet I st i l l can t pr ogr ammy Ti Vo, I sai d.
I t hought I hear d Tot al st i f l e a snor t , but I di dn t l ook down.
I t s t i me t o st ar t usi ng your smar t s, t he Di r ect or went on t i ght l y. Dr . t er
Bor cht i s not t he onl y one who want s you dead. Wor ki ng f or t he Chi nese i s your one
oppor t uni t y t o cont i nue l i vi ng.
I st ar ed at her i n amazement . How do you even l i ve wi t h your sel f ? I sai d,
genui nel y dumbf ounded. You r e wi l l i ng t o sel l chi l dr en t o a f or ei gn gover nment so
t hey can use us as weapons, possi bl y agai nst ot her Amer i cans. I don t get i t . Wer e
you hi di ng behi nd a door on mor al s and et hi cs day? Then you have t he gal l t o cal l
your sel f my mot her ? You coul dn t mot her someone i f t hey shot f i ve gal l ons of
est r ogen i nt o your vei ns! What about t hei r mot her s? I waved at t he f l ock. Pl ease
t el l me t hei r mot her s ar en t hal f as l ame as you!
Thei r mot her s wer e nobodi es, Mar i an sai d. Donor eggs. Lab wor ker s, t echs,
anyone we f ound. That was t he poi nt - t hat we coul d cr eat e a super r ace out of
anyt hi ng. Out of t r ash, she sai d meanl y.
I hear d bl ood r ushi ng t hr ough t he vei ns i n my head. Wel l , you r e r i ght t her e, I
sai d. Because we ar e a super r ace. And I di d come f r omt r ash.
The Di r ect or cl apped her hands, and t he Fl yboys at t he door snapped t o at t ent i on.
I f el t Ar i and t he ot her s st r ai ght en up, go on hi gher al er t , wai t i ng t o see how
badl y t hi s si t uat i on woul d devol ve. Whi ch i t was guar ant eed t o do.
You r e a chi l d, Max, she sai d, obvi ousl y t r yi ng t o cont r ol her anger . Whi ch
makes i t unsur pr i si ng t hat you can t see t he bi g pi ct ur e. You r e st i l l put t i ng
your sel f at t he cent er of t he uni ver se. I t s t i me you f ound out you r e j ust a smal l
Page 80
speck i n t he bi g scheme of t hi ngs.
Whi ch means what ? I demanded. That I mnot hi ng? That I mnot a per son? That you
can do anyt hi ng you want t o me and i t s okay? You r e so f ul l of i t ! But you r e
wr ong. I know t hat I do mat t er . I ami mpor t ant . And you r e a pat het i c, col d,
poi nt l ess wast oi d who s goi ng t o gr ow ol d al one and di e, t hen r oast i n hel l
f or ever .
I have t o say, t hat sounded dang good, consi der i ng I don t even know i f I bel i eve
i n hel l . I do bel i eve i n hat ef ul r hymes- wi t h- wi t ches, t hough, and I had one st andi ng
r i ght her e who was gl ar i ng spar ks at me.
Thi s i s what I mean, she sai d. Your chi l di sh i nsul t s don t af f ect me. Your
usel ess anger doesn t af f ect me. You l l end up doi ng what I say or you wi l l di e.
I t s t hat si mpl e.
That s one of t he many, many di f f er ences bet ween you and me, I snar l ed. I have
enough smar t s t o know t hat i t s never t hat si mpl e. And I can make t hi s mor e
compl i cat ed t han you coul d possi bl y i magi ne. I put r eal menace i nt o my voi ce,
l eani ng f or war d t hr eat eni ngl y and cl enchi ng my f i st s. Her eyes f l i cker ed.
See, you don t know squat about me, Mom, I went on i ci l y. You have no i dea what
I mcapabl e of . J ust because you made me doesn t mean you know what I can do, what
I ve done. And her e s a news f l ash: My chi p i s gone. So you can t ake your spywar e
and shove i t .
Her gl ance qui ckl y shot t o my wr i st .
I dr opped my voi ce and st ar ed i nt o her eyes. I coul d t el l she was t r yi ng har d not
t o l ook away. I was so f ur i ous I coul d have cheer f ul l y r i pped her head of f . But
you r e goi ng t o f i nd out , Mom, I sai d ver y sof t l y. And i t s goi ng t o gi ve you
ni ght mar es f or t he r est of your wast ed l i f e.
Oh, my God, I was so badass. I t was al l I coul d do t o not gi ve a mwa ha ha ha!
The Di r ect or cl enched her t eet h and vi si bl y cont r ol l ed some shal l ow br eat hs.
Fi nal l y she spoke. You r e wast i ng your t i me, Max, she sai d. You can t hur t me.
I gr i nned evi l l y, and she f l i nched f or a spl i t second, t hen made her f ace
expr essi onl ess.
Yes, Mom, I whi sper ed. I r eal l y can.

104
I msur e some of you get sent t o your r ooms somet i mes by your par ent s. Al l I have
t o say i s, t he next t i me i t happens and you r e l yi ng t her e al l mad t hi nki ng about
how har d your l i f e i s, j ust pi ct ur e me st andi ng next t o you, r eady t o smack you
upsi de t he head. When I get sent t o my r oom, i t s i n a f r eaki ng dungeon! Wi t h r at s!
Pl us, how many of your par ent s chai n you t o t he wal l ? I mbet t i ng not t hat many.
Okay, maybe some. I don t know how r egul ar f ami l i es wor k. But pr obabl y not many, am
I r i ght ?
Yeah, you showed her , Tot al mut t er ed, l i cki ng hi s paw wher e hi s shackl e was
chaf i ng i t .
I made a f ace at hi m. God, my mom s such a wi t ch.
We ve been i n wor se pl aces, i n wor se si t uat i ons, Nudge sai d.
For al l we know a Pet Smar t t r uck i s pul l i ng up out si de, unl oadi ng dog cr at es, I
sai d gl oomi l y, unwi l l i ng t o be comf or t ed.
The speaker s wi r ed t o t he wal l s cr ackl ed t o l i f e, and I gr oaned as mor e
mul t i - cul t i pr opaganda began t o assaul t our ear s.
I i nched over t owar d Nudge and Angel . My chai n l et me si t bet ween t hem, and I
unf ol ded my wi ngs and shook t hemout . Then I car ef ul l y wr apped my wi ngs ar ound Nudge
and Angel , encasi ng t hemi n a war m, f eat her y cocoon bi g enough t o hol d al l of us.
Tot al coul dn t be l ef t out , so he dr agged hi s chai n over and cr awl ed beneat h my
wi ngs t oo.
I l ooked over at Ar i . He was asl eep, or pr et endi ng t o be asl eep, so he wasn t par t
of t he f eat her y f un f est .
I t was qui et and di mher e; t he st ones wer e col d under my j eans, and I coul d f eel a
chi l l st ar t i ng t o seep i nt o my ski n. Anot her hour or t wo and we woul d be mi ser abl e
wi t h col d. How l ong woul d i t t ake Fang t o get her e? How coul d he even get her e?
Tot al pr i cked hi s ear s and r ai sed hi s head sl i ght l y. Looki ng i nt o t he shadows, I
saw a t al l shape movi ng t owar d us. I n an i nst ant I had r ecogni zed t he gai t , t he
hei ght , t he body l anguage. J eb. He was l i ke r eal l y spi cy Mexi can f ood- kept comi ng
back on ya.
I di dn t have t he ener gy f or mor e spar r i ng.
Page 81
When he was cl ose enough, I sai d, Pl ease t el l me t hat i cebox was ki ddi ng about
bei ng my mot her .
He knel t i n f r ont of us, and I gat her ed t he younger ones mor e cl osel y under my
wi ngs.
The Di r ect or i s a br i l l i ant woman wi t h a gl obal vi si on, J eb sai d.
Yeah, a der anged gl obal vi si on, I sai d sour l y.
She s a r emar kabl e, gi f t ed sci ent i st .
Why can t she use her power s f or good i nst ead of evi l ? Li ke, cur e cancer or
somet hi ng. And no, ki l l i ng ever yone who has cancer does not count as a cur e.
Dr . J anssen i s an ambi t i ous, t al ent ed pol i t i cal st r at egi st , J eb sai d. She coul d
ver y wel l end up r unni ng t he wor l d. One day she mi ght be t he most power f ul per son on
Ear t h. As her daught er , you woul d be i n a posi t i on of uni magi nabl e advant age.
Except t hat I woul d have changed my name and dyed my hai r and woul d be l i vi ng
i ncogni t o somewher e t o avoi d t he embar r assment of havi ng a r ut hl ess, power - cr azy Dr .
Fr ankenst ei n f or a mot her , I poi nt ed out .
Even i f she wer e t he most power f ul per son i n t he wor l d, and bei ng her daught er
woul d gi ve you al most unl i mi t ed power t oo? J eb asked.
I made a f ace. I f I had t hat much power , t he f i r st t hi ng I woul d do i s sl amher
i nt o j ai l .
J eb j ust l ooked at me. What el se woul d you do?
Put her i n j ai l , I r epeat ed. Pl us al l t he ot her s who l ent a hand t o t hi s
hat ef ul Gol df i nger pl an of wor l d domi nat i on. Pl us, I woul d say t hat al l war s woul d
be f ought onl y on f oot wi t h not hi ng mor e t han swor ds. No guns, no mi ssi l es, no
bombs. Onl y swor ds. I l ooked up, war mi ng t o t he i dea of Wor l d Emper or Max. And I
woul d sei ze al l t he of f shor e hi dden bank account s of compani es and peopl e who had
cont r i but ed t o r ui ni ng t he envi r onment . Wi t h t hat money, I woul d make sur e t hat
heal t h car e and educat i on wer e avai l abl e t o ever yone f or f r ee.
I f el t Nudge and Angel smi l e agai nst my shoul der s, and I sat up st r ai ght er . Pl us,
housi ng and f ood f or ever yone. Compani es t hat pol l ut ed woul d be shut down and
bani shed. Peopl e i n t he gover nment who i gnor ed t he envi r onment and st ar t ed war s
woul d be boot ed out of of f i ce and made t o wor k i n t he f i el ds. And-
J eb hel d up hi s hand and st opped me. You j ust passed anot her t est , Max.

105
Excel l ent , I sai d, i r r i t at ed al l over agai n. Then get us out of t hi s st i nki ng
dungeon.
What t est di d she pass? Nudge asked, r ai si ng her head a l i t t l e.
J eb t ur ned t o her . She s i ncor r upt i bl e.
Bul l y f or me. At l east by power , I sai d. You haven t t r i ed Sni cker s bar s or
cut e shoes.
J eb smi l ed at me. I t st i l l hur t my hear t when he di d t hat .
You don t want t he Di r ect or t o be your mot her no mat t er what ki nd of power you
woul d get f r omi t .
I don t want t he Di r ect or t o be my mot her because she s an i nsane wi t ch, I sai d.
Hi s smi l e wi dened, and I bar el y suppr essed an ur ge t o punch hi m.
The Di r ect or i sn t your mot her .
Had I hear d r i ght ? Was he j ust snowi ng me? I f el t Nudge and Angel st i f f en, and Ar i
cl umsi l y sat up and r ubbed hi s eyes. He bl i nked at seei ng J eb but di dn t say
anyt hi ng.
What do you mean? I sai d suspi ci ousl y. I s t hi s one of your chai n yanks? I mean,
f or God s sake, make up your mi nd!
The Di r ect or , Mar i an J anssen, engi neer ed your desi gn and devel opment , J eb
expl ai ned. She over saw t he whol e pr oj ect . To her , t hat must f eel l i ke mot her hood.
Oh, my God, and her e I t hought she coul dn t get any mor e pat het i c. Rel i ef was
f l oodi ng t hr ough me t hat such a hor r i bl e, cr azy per son t r ul y had not passed on her
DNA t o me.
She di dn t donat e an egg? I needed t o be sur e.
J eb shook hi s head. She shar es no genet i c mat er i al wi t h you.
I dr opped my head. I mr eal l y, r eal l y gl ad, I mut t er ed. Of cour se, i t l ef t me
wi t h my same ol d myst er y guest f or a mot her , but I swear , anyone woul d have been
bet t er t han t hat f r eak show. I coul dn t bel i eve J eb had j ust wal t zed i n her e and
t ol d me. He, mor e t han anyone el se, shoul d have known how huge i t was, f i ndi ng out
who my mot her was. Or wasn t .
Page 82
I l ooked up at hi m. Wel l ? Any ot her bombs you want t o dr op bef or e you l eave? Any
mor e f ake di r ect i ons you want t o st eer me i n?
J eb hesi t at ed. Do you r emember i n New Yor k, when you ki l l ed Ar i , and I yel l ed
t hat you had ki l l ed your br ot her ?
I l ooked over war i l y and saw Ar i t ense, st ar i ng at J eb.
Yeah. Lucky f or you he s har d t o ki l l .
Ar i shot me a br i ef smi l e.
He i s your br ot her , Max, sai d J eb. At l east , your hal f br ot her .
I coul dn t br eat he. What di d. . . what . . .
I myour f at her , Max, sai d J eb si mpl y.

106
Ever yt hi ng f aded away except J eb s f ace.
I coul dn t even hear t he pr opaganda bl ar i ng f r omt he speaker s anymor e. I f el t t he
damp heat of Nudge s hand t i ght en i n mi ne, f el t my f eat her s br ushi ng t he col d st one
f l oor , but al l I coul d do was st ar e at J eb whi l e hi s wor ds r at t l ed sensel essl y
i nsi de my br ai n.
My eyes f l i cked back t o Ar i . He di dn t l ook upset - j ust st unned.
What ar e you t al ki ng about ? I sai d, unwi l l i ng t o have t he r ug pul l ed out f r om
under me, whi ch, f ace i t , seems t o be t hese guys mai n sour ce of yuks.
I myour f at her , Max, J eb r epeat ed. I wasn t mar r i ed t o your mot her , but we
deci ded t oget her t o cr eat e you.
I coul dn t even l ook at hi m. For year s and year s I had wi shed t hat he was my dad.
I n my mi nd, wi t hout t el l i ng anyone, I d pr et ended he was. I t was what I d want ed
mor e t han anyt hi ng i n t he wor l d. Then he d di sappear ed and I d gr i eved f or hi mwi t h
a br oken hear t .
Then he d t ur ned up agai n- sur pr i se! - evi l . Whi ch had br oken my hear t even wor se
t han t he f i r st t i me.
Now J eb was sayi ng t hat he r eal l y was my dad. That my wi shes had come t r ue. Except
I no l onger t r ust ed hi m, no l onger admi r ed hi m, no l onger l oved hi m.
Hmm, I sai d.
He r eached out and pat t ed my knee br i ef l y. I know i t s an awf ul l ot t o t ake i n,
especi al l y gi ven t he past si x mont hs. Al l I can say i s t hat one day I hope t o be
abl e t o expl ai n i t al l t o you, Max. You deser ve t hat , and so much mor e. But know
t hat I myour f at her . And I know t hi s sounds i mpossi bl e, but I maski ng you t o t r ust
me as your dad.
That r eal l y can t happen at t hi s poi nt , I sai d sl owl y.
He nodded. I under st and. But I maski ng you t o t r y.
Hmm.
Hal f br ot her ? Ar i asked.
J eb t ur ned t o hi m. Yes. You had di f f er ent mot her s. Your mot her was my wi f e, who
di ed shor t l y af t er you wer e bor n.
Ar i was absor bi ng t hi s when I asked, But I was bor n bef or e Ar i . Who was my
mot her ?
Your mot her and I had no per sonal r el at i onshi p, sai d J eb sl owl y. But we agr eed
on what t o do; we agr eed t hat we want ed t o be par t of your begi nni ng, par t of your
her i t age. I t was a monument al , st unni ng i dea, t hat we-
I don t want t o hear t hi s! I cr i ed, f ol di ng i n my wi ngs. I was r eady t o ki l l
hi m, dr awi ng out t hi s moment l i ke t or t ur e. I don t car e about al l t he beaut i f ul
sci ence, l a l a l a! You t el l me who my mot her i s bef or e I yank your eyes out !
J eb l ooked at me, unper t ur bed. She s a good woman, and you r emi nd me of her .
I st ood up, t r embl i ng wi t h r age and t ensi on. You. . . bet t er . . . t el l . . . me.
My hands wer e cl enched i nt o f i st s. Angel and Nudge st ood up t oo, behi nd me. Tot al
was gr owl i ng l ow i n hi s t hr oat . For such a smal l dog, he coul d sound l i ke a
r ot t wei l er when he want ed t o.
Your mot her i s Dr . Mar t i nez. Val enci a Mar t i nez. You met her i n Ar i zona.

107
I al most f el l over backwar d. For a second I t hought I was goi ng t o f ai nt - I got
t unnel vi si on and my ski n f el t i cy. Ther e was no sound i n t he empt y, echoi ng
dungeon.
A dozen i mages f l ashed t hr ough my mi nd: her smi l i ng f ace, her war mbr own eyes, t he
smel l of homemade chocol at e- chi p cooki es. Her and El l a wat chi ng me, hands shadi ng
Page 83
t hei r eyes, as I t ook of f . Eat i ng meal s t oget her . She was t he most r eal moml i ke mom
I d ever i magi ned.
Dr . Mar t i nez. . . i s my. . . mot her ? I whi sper ed hoar sel y.
He nodded ser i ousl y. She was an i ncr edi bl y i mpor t ant r esear ch sci ent i st ,
speci al i zi ng i n avi an genet i cs. But once you wer e a vi abl e embr yo, she was l ocked
out of t he pr ocess. Not by me, I mi ght add. She went back t o Ar i zona, br okenhear t ed.
But she donat ed t he egg t hat became you.
I f r owned, my mi nd r aci ng, l ooki ng f or l oophol es. I had t o make absol ut el y sur e,
because i f I got my hopes up and t hen was wr ong, I di dn t t hi nk I d ever r ecover .
Dr . Mar t i nez i s Hi spani c, I sai d. I don t l ook anyt hi ng l i ke her .
You have her eyes, sai d J eb.
Wel l , I di d have br own eyes.
And I was bl ond as a l i t t l e boy, l i ke you ar e. So was Ar i , i f you r emember .
I gl anced at Ar i , who was now, you know, wol f col or ed. He had been bl ond.
I f ocused my l aser gaze on J eb and made my voi ce as har d as an i ce pi ck. I f t hi s
i s an el abor at e t est , somet hi ng el se I msupposed t o pass somehow, you wi l l never
see t he l i ght of day agai n.
J eb s mout h qui r ked on one si de. Thi s, I mhappy t o say, i s not a t est . Out of
ever yt hi ng I ve ever t ol d you, i t i s t he most t r ue. Val enci a Mar t i nez i s your
mot her . And I myour f at her .
I l ooked at hi m, st i l l f ur i ous about ever yt hi ng t hat had happened si nce he d
di sappear ed on us mor e t han t wo year s ago. I want ed t o hur t hi mone- t ent h as much as
he d hur t me and t he r est of t he f l ock.
I don t have a f at her , I sai d col dl y, and was bot h r ewar ded by and gui l t y about
t he f l ar e of pai n I saw i n hi s eyes. I l ooked away and, st i l l t r embl i ng wi t h
emot i on, t ur ned and went as f ar as my chai n woul d l et me.
When J eb spoke, he used t he Voi ce, t he one I d got t en so used t o hear i ng i nsi de my
head, t he one I hadn t hear d si nce he d t ol d me i t was hi m.
Max- you r e st i l l her e t o save t he wor l d. That s what you wer e bor n f or , t hat s
t he poi nt of ever yt hi ng, al l of t hi s. No one el se can do i t . I bel i eve t hat wi t h al l
my hear t . Thi s i sn t a t est , and I mnot snowi ng you. You have t o do t hi s. Not hi ng
i n t he hi st or y of manki nd has ever been mor e i mpor t ant . Not hi ng. Ever . Ever .

108
Ther e was si l ence f or a f ew moment s. I t was al l t oo much f or me t o t ake i n- l i ke
get t i ng t he most amazi ng, f abul ous, unbel i evabl e Chr i st mas pr esent s ever , and yet
havi ng t hemcause you an i ncr edi bl e amount of r age and pai n.
What about our par ent s? Angel asked. Me and t he Gasman. Nudge, Fang. Wher e ar e
t hey?
I don t know, J eb sai d, st andi ng up. Some of t hemwer e never i dent i f i ed by
name- onl y number . And we ve l ost t r ack of ot her s. Thei r r ol es wer e over so qui ckl y.
What about t hat i nf or mat i on we f ound, Nudge asked, wher e we saw some names and
addr esses and st uf f ?
J eb shook hi s head. I don t know what you f ound, but I d guess you mi si nt er pr et ed
i t , or maybe i t was pl ant ed by t he Di r ect or . I ve been f i ndi ng out about many t hi ngs
she s done t hat I di dn t know about .
Oh, I mso sur e, I t hought .
Looki ng over at Nudge and Angel , I saw t hei r f aces f al l , t he l i ght of hope f adi ng
i n t hei r eyes. I put my ar ms ar ound t hem, and Tot al wedged hi msel f among our f eet .
I msor r y, guys, I sai d, hol di ng t hemcl ose. But par ent s ar e t ot al l y over r at ed.
We r e al l t he f ami l y we need. Ri ght ?
We ve j ust . . . spent so much t i me t r yi ng t o f i nd out , Nudge sai d sof t l y.
Angel nodded. I want t o know, f or sur e.
Someday we l l know t he whol e t r ut h, I sai d. But f or r i ght now, I mj ust gl ad I
have you guys. You r e my f ami l y.
They gave me sad smi l es and nodded.
I l ooked over my shoul der at J eb. You can go now. Unl ess you have any mor e
hear t br eaki ng news you d l i ke t o del i ver .
He l ooked r egr et f ul , and I aut omat i cal l y t ensed up.
You r e supposed t o come see t he r al l y, he sai d. And t hen t her e s a f i nal t est .
He sounded wei r d and di dn t meet my eyes. I msur e al l of you wi l l j oi n me i n
l eapi ng t o t he concl usi on t hat somet hi ng bad was about t o happen.
And you woul d be r i ght .
Page 84

109
Dat e: Al r eady Too Lat e!
You ar e vi si t or number : Our st at t hi ng qui t wor ki ng. Got over l oaded. But you r e
way up t her e, bel i eve me.
Let s St i ck Toget her , Peopl e!
Okay, f ol ks, we r e on t he East Coast somewher e bet ween Mi ami and East por t , Mai ne.
Don t want t o be mor e speci f i c t han t hat . We r e on our way t o r ej oi n Max. Don t have
t i me t o r ehash al l t he det ai l s, but l et s j ust say t hat I ve deci ded a f l ock ought
t o st i ck t oget her whi l e t hey can.
We ve got t en mor e mai l t han we can handl e, so t hanks t o ever yone who s suppor t i ng
us. I can onl y r epl y t o a f ew peopl e, so I l l do t hat her e, and t hen we have t o
spl i t .
To Advon777 i n Ut ah: I don t know wher e you got a mi ssi l e l auncher , and I don t
want t o know. But even t hough i t mi ght come i n handy, i t st i l l seems l i ke a r eal l y
bad i dea f or you t o be messi ng wi t h i t . Maybe you shoul d j ust put i t back wher e you
got i t .
To Fel i ci t e St ar Li ght i n Mi l an, I t al y: Thanks f or t he of f er , but I r eal l y don t
have t i me f or a gi r l f r i end r i ght now. I f ound your i deas. . . cr eat i ve, but t hi s i s not
a good t i me.
To J amesL i n Ont ar i o: Thanks, man. I appr eci at e your suppor t . We need al l t he hel p
we can get , but wai t i ng t i l l you get out of second gr ade i s f i ne.
To PDM1223: Excel l ent ! That s exact l y what I mt al ki ng about ! Tel l peopl e what s
goi ng on, spr ead t he message, or gani ze pr ot est s and st uf f . Pi cket t he gar gant uan
phar mco compani es l i ke I t ex. I hacked i nt o t hei r f i l es and f ound t hat t he compani es
St el l ah Cor p, Dywest r a, Mof ongo Resear ch, Del aneyMi nker Pr i nce, and a bunch of ot her s
ar e al l I t ex under di f f er ent names i n di f f er ent count r i es. St el l ah Cor p i s i n
Engl and, not f ar f r omyou. See t he whol e l i st under Appendi x F, f or Fat heads.
Ever yone, r ead t hi s guy s mai l ! He t ot al l y has a handl e on what I mean, what needs
t o happen.
To ever yone i n t he Seat t l e ar ea: Ther e s a pr ot est or gani zed f or Sat ur day. Check
t he schedul e t hat Bi gBoyBl ue has made ( t hanks, BBB! ) , at t ached as Appendi x G, f or
t he t i me and pl ace. Fol ks i n ot her ci t i es, check t he schedul e. Ther e s a t i dal wave
of st uf f goi ng on. Thanks t o ever yone who s maki ng t hi s happen! We r e gonna save t he
wor l d! We r e t he l ast hope!
- Fang
Fang t yped t he l ast wor ds, t hen sat back and r ubbed hi s eyes. I t was t wo i n t he
mor ni ng.
He, I ggy, and t he Gasman wer e set up t o sneak ont o a f r ei ght pl ane at 6: 10 a. m.
The t wo ot her boys wer e asl eep, cur l ed up on sacks of seed cor n i n t he cor ner of
t hi s caver nous hangar . Fang had of f er ed t o t ake t he whol e wat ch. He had t o get
caught up wi t h hi s bl og, and al so, t hey seemed much mor e wi ped t han he was. They d
f l own acr oss t he whol e Uni t ed St at es, wi t h st ops onl y f or qui ck r est s and meal s on
t he r un.
He shut down t he comput er , want i ng t o save t he bat t er y. He f el t saf er wi t hout i t s
sof t bl ue gl ow, wi t h t he mi ddl e- of - t heni ght bl ackness set t l i ng ar ound hi m.
I t was har d t o bel i eve what he was r eadi ng on t he bl og, t he swel l i ng under gr ound
movement t hat ki ds wer e or gani zi ng al l ar ound t he wor l d. Even i n pl aces l i ke
Kazakhst an and Tai wan, ki ds wer e get t i ng mad, get t i ng det er mi ned. Fang had hear d
f r omki ds who seemed wi l l i ng t o di e f or what t hey bel i eved i n. He hoped t hat
woul dn t be necessar y.
He l eaned back agai nst a sack of cor n, l i st eni ng t o t he ot her s br eat hi ng. I t was
t or t ur e t o wai t unt i l si x l i ke t hi s, and t hen t he whol e f l i ght acr oss t he ocean, and
t hen l ook f or Max somewher e i n Ger many. He d gi ve anyt hi ng t o be abl e t o snap hi s
f i nger s and be t her e. Unf or t unat el y, t hat was one ski l l t he mad sci ent i st s had
f or got t en t o pr ogr ami n.
I n t he meant i me, he was t ot al l y st oked about hi s bl og, t he one t hat Max hadn t
t aken ser i ousl y. He r eal l y t hought t hese ki ds coul d make a di f f er ence. Mor e
Page 85
i mpor t ant , t hey t hought so t oo.
He put hi s hands behi nd hi s neck and st r et ched, t hen per mi t t ed hi msel f a smal l
gr i n. Max had al ways t eased t hat t he f l ock had vot ed Fang Most Li kel y t o Become a
Cul t Leader .
Wel l , maybe he had. And maybe t hat was t he onl y t hi ng t hat coul d save ever ybody.

110
I s t hi s a pep r al l y? Tot al asked i n a l ow voi ce as we sl ogged our way up
count l ess st one st eps. Wi t h cheer l eader s? I l ove cheer l eader s.
I don t t hi nk i t s a pep r al l y, I sai d under my br eat h. Somehow I don t t hi nk
t he Mad Whi t ecoat t eami s squar i ng of f agai nst t he Fi ght i n Fr eedomLover s.
What ki nd of f i nal t est ? Nudge asked, soundi ng appr ehensi ve.
I si ghed. Somet hi ng asi ni ne, pr obabl y l i f e t hr eat eni ng, and guar ant eed t o make me
angr y ever y t i me I r emember i t f or t he r est of my l i f e.
Angel l ooked up at me, wor r i ed. Do you t hi nk Fang wi l l get her e soon?
I nodded. I msur e he s on hi s way.
But he pr obabl y woul dn t make i t i n t i me t o spar e me t hi s i di ocy. I nst i nct i vel y I
began t aki ng deep br eat hs, super - oxygenat i ng my bl ood. My knuckl es wer e scar r ed f r om
t he l ast l i t t l e ski r mi sh I d had wi t h t he f l yi ng can opener s, and I cr acked t hem
l oudl y, al r eady br aci ng mysel f t o f eel pai n and t o i gnor e i t .
The r al l y was t aki ng pl ace out i n t he wi mpy wi nt er sunl i ght of t he pr i son yar d.
The sky and ai r f el t as gr ay as t he l i f el ess di r t beneat h our boot s. I t hought about
Dr . Mar t i nez and how she mi ght act ual l y be my mom. Out si de of t he f l ock, she and
El l a- El l a was my hal f si st er ! - wer e my f avor i t e peopl e i n t he wor l d. I wi shed I coul d
t ake sever al hour s t o j ust enj oy t hi nki ng about i t . Now I mi ght di e bef or e I ever
saw t hemagai n.
The r emai ni ng r anks of mut ant s and wannabes wer e l i ned up neat l y i n t he yar d.
Ther e wer e f ewer of t hemt han bef or e, and I r emember ed what Max I I had sai d about
how t hey di sappear ed ever y day.
Was t hi s goi ng t o be anot her f i ght wi t h Max I I ? Di d t hey r eal l y want me t o ki l l
her t hi s t i me? I pr ayed no one was si ck enough t o make me f i ght Ar i agai n, but I
woul dn t put i t past t hem.
Wai t her e, commanded a Fl yboy i n a met al l i c voi ce.
Sur e, I t hought , because t el l i ng me what t o do al ways wor ks so wel l .
Sever al Fl yboys sur r ounded us, poi nt i ng guns. The guns seemed t o be wel ded t o
t hei r ar ms, par t of t hem. An i mpr ovement over t he l ast ones- now t hey coul dn t dr op
t hei r weapons or have t hemt aken away. Those guys j ust kept i nnovat i ng! That s
pr ogr ess, peopl e!
Wel come, ever yone, sai d my ex- mom, wal ki ng out ont o a pl at f or m. Her i mage
i mmedi at el y popped up on hal f a dozen movi e t heat er - si zed scr eens posi t i oned al l
ar ound t he yar d.
She opened her ar ms i n gr eet i ng, and t hen I not i ced t he vi ewi ng st ands f ul l of
peopl e over t o one si de. Ever yt hi ng about t hemsai d gover nment wanks, and I
f i gur ed t hey wer e her e t o be i mpr essed, f l at t er ed, and br i bed, not necessar i l y i n
t hat or der .
Wel come, honor ed r epr esent at i ves of . . . Then she l aunched i nt o a geogr aphi cal
who s who of count r i es al l ar ound t he wor l d. Pr et t y much ever y count r y I d hear d of ,
and a bunch I hadn t , seemed t o be t hi nki ng about j umpi ng on t he I nsane Apocal ypse
bandwagon.
And now, pr epar e your sel ves t o vi ew many of our most st unni ng achi evement s, sai d
t he Di r ect or , pr essi ng a but t on t hat opened an ei ght - f oot met al - cl ad door .
Gr eat , I t hought . My day s about t o get wor se.
Whi ch, come t o t hi nk of i t , was t he f i r st of t hei r st unni ng achi evement s,
act ual l y.

111
Okay, t hey got me, Tot al whi sper ed. I amone st unned l i t t l e dog.
Angel , Nudge, and I nodded si l ent l y, our eyes wi de at what was happeni ng i n f r ont
of us.
I won t descr i be t he scar i est t hi ngs we saw t hat mor ni ng, cause i t woul d depr ess
t he heck out of you. Let s j ust say t hat i f t hese sci ent i st s had been usi ng t hei r
br i l l i ance f or good i nst ead of evi l , car s woul d r un of f wat er vapor and l eave f r esh
compost behi nd t hem; no one woul d be hungr y; no one woul d be i l l ; al l bui l di ngs
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woul d be ear t hquake- , bomb- , and f l ood- pr oof ; and t he wor l d s ent i r e economy woul d
have col l apsed and been r epl aced by one based on t he val ue of chocol at e.
However , si nce t hey wer e evi l , basi cal l y we saw st uf f t hat woul d f uel t he wor l d s
ni ght mar es f or t he next f i ve hundr ed year s.
Max, i f you sur vi ve your f i nal t est , can you st eal one of t hose magi c out f i t s f or
me? Angel asked, l eani ng agai nst me.
I l l t r y t o get one f or each of us, I r epl i ed, and t hen I r eal i zed what she d
sai d. Hey! I f ?
She l ooked at me ser i ousl y, and I hoped she hadn t devel oped a way t o pr edi ct t he
f ut ur e. We r e way out number ed, and I don t t hi nk t hey r e gonna f i ght f ai r .
I hel d her hand t i ght l y. They never do. But I wi l l sur vi ve, and I wi l l st eal you
one of t hose magi c sui t s.
She smi l ed.
Her e you see our pat ent ed pr ocess f or gr owi ng r epl acement l i mbs, sai d t he
Di r ect or . A man wal ked out , r eached over , and det ached hi s ar mf r omt he shoul der . He
showed t hat i t was made of f l esh and bone, and was at t ached t o hi mby an el ect r oni c
i nt er f ace t hat l ooked suspi ci ousl y l i ke an i Pod dat a por t .
Way gr oss, sai d Nudge, and we al l nodded.
We made t he r epl i ca ar mout of bi ogenet i c mat r i x, t he Di r ect or expl ai ned.
I s t hat f r omDuncan Hi nes? I whi sper ed.
I t f unct i ons exact l y l i ke t he l i mb he l ost - and even bet t er , t he Di r ect or went
on. We l aced t i t ani umcel l s i nt o t he bone mat er i al , st r engt heni ng i t s st r ess
r esi st ance by f our hundr ed per cent .
And guar ant eei ng hi mhassl es at ai r por t secur i t y st at i ons al l over t he wor l d, I
mur mur ed.
Next we have one of our most successf ul human hybr i ds, sai d Dr . J anssen.
A woman wal ked out , t ot al l y nor mal l ooki ng. Di d she have wi ngs? Was she an Er aser ?
Mar a her e had Pant her a par dus genet i c mat er i al gr af t ed i nt o her human DNA. I t s
gi ven her some uni que qual i t i es.
What s t hat ? Angel whi sper ed.
I don t know, I sai d.
Somet hi ng f el i ne, sai d Ar i .
He was r i ght . Up on t he pl at f or m, t he woman opened her mout h t o r eveal humongous
r azor - shar p f angs, whi ch l ooked even mor e l et hal t han t he t ypi cal Er aser s. Then she
cr ouched down, spr ang up as i f made of r ubber , and l anded f i f t een f eet above t he
pl at f or m, cl i ngi ng t o a t al l l i ght st and.
Ever yone who hadn t gasped when t hey saw her f angs qui t t r yi ng t o be suave and
went ahead and gasped.
The Di r ect or smi l ed and mot i oned her down. As usual , t he l eopar d genes wer e
expr essed i n some unexpect ed ways.
Meani ng t hey st i l l di dn t know what t he heck t hey wer e doi ng.
Mar a t ur ned ar ound. The Di r ect or unzi pped her j umpsui t at t he back, and an exci t ed
mur mur r aced t hr ough t he cr owd. Ol Mar a had l eopar d spot s t r ai l i ng down her spi ne.
Guess she can t change t hat , I sai d, and Tot al sni cker ed.
And Mar a i s j ust t he begi nni ng, sai d t he Di r ect or .

112
Gr owi ng up i n t he l ab at t he School , wher e we wer e sur r ounded by dog cr at es f i l l ed
wi t h mi x n mat ch genet i c exper i ment s, we d seen pr et t y much any combi nat i on of t wo
l i vi ng t hi ngs t hat you coul d i magi ne, and pr obabl y a t housand t hat you coul dn t .
Vi r t ual l y al l of t hemhad been unsuccessf ul , or nonvi abl e, as t he whi t ecoat s sai d.
A t i ny per cent age made i t past t he embr yo st age, and a f ew st r uggl ed al ong f or a
year or t wo bef or e t hei r hor r i f i c def i ci t s caught up wi t h t hem. As f ar as I knew,
we, t he f l ock, had been by f ar t he most successf ul hybr i d. Us and t he Er aser s. Even
t he Er aser s onl y l i ved about si x year s or so. We wer e anci ent compar ed wi t h t hem.
Today we wer e seei ng some successf ul hybr i ds, l i ke Mar a. Af t er Spot Gi r l , t he
Di r ect or t r ot t ed out t wo peopl e who coul d cont r ol t he col or of t hei r ski n j ust by
t hi nki ng about i t .
Can t hey t ur n bl ue? Nudge asked, f asci nat ed. Or pur pl e?
Who knows? I sai d, and t hen my st omach t wi st ed as t he peopl e onst age l i t er al l y
t ur ned camouf l age r i ght i n f r ont of us. I t hought about what t he mi l i t ar y peopl e of
var i ous count r i es coul d do wi t h t hat and f el t i l l .
We saw peopl e who coul d i ncr ease t hei r hei ght by about f our i nches, j ust by
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cont r ol l i ng t hei r muscl es and skel et al st r uct ur es wi t h t hei r mi nds.
Combi ne t hat wi t h t he ski n- changi ng t ypes, and you ve got a r eci pe f or a bank
r obber del uxe, I sai d. They d never be r ecogni zed.
We saw peopl e wi t h har d, scal y, bul l et pr oof ski n, or Gat or Guys, as we cal l ed t hem.
We saw a woman who coul d scr eamat pi t ches t oo hi gh f or any of us t o hear but had
Tot al wr i t hi ng i n pai n on t he gr ound, bi t i ng hi s l i p t o keep f r omshr i eki ng swear
wor ds. Her voi ce coul d br eak gl ass, whi ch i sn t t ot al l y unusual , but i t coul d al so
shat t er met al , whi ch seemed new and di f f er ent - and compl et el y hor r i f yi ng.
Thi nk of what a successf ul nag she woul d be, I sai d t o Ar i , and he t r i ed t o
smi l e but coul dn t . Hi s ski n seemed t o have a gr ayi sh cast , and he d been unusual l y
qui et f or sever al hour s. I wonder ed i f he was near hi s end.
These t hi ngs al l l ook l i ke sol di er s, sai d Nudge. Li ke t hey d be good i n a war ,
you know?
They l ook al l war r y because t hey wer e bui l t t o be an ar my, I t ol d her .
Wel l , t hat woul d do i t , she sai d.
Don t t hese peopl e ever t hi nk about anyt hi ng el se? Tot al mut t er ed i n di sgust .
Ther e s mor e t o l i f e t han wor l d domi nat i on, you know.
Max? What s t hat ? Angel asked, poi nt i ng.
I l ooked. Up on t he st age t he Di r ect or seemed t o have a r emot e cont r ol i n her
hand. Then I saw a smal l swar mof gl i t t er y copper - col or ed t hi ngs ci r cl i ng ar ound
her . Wer e t hey bugs? Had t hey st ar t ed engi neer i ng bugs? Oh, gr eat . J ust what t he
wor l d needed.
The Di r ect or mot i oned t o someone. He opened a l ar ge pl ast i c box, and hundr eds of
beaut i f ul but t er f l i es f l ew out . I t was a wei r d j ol t of col or i n t hi s gr ay l andscape.
Wel l , besi des t he camo peopl e, t hat i s.
The gl i t t er y t hi ngs wer en t bugs.
They wer e nano- bul l et s, wi t h t hei r own i nt er nal gui dance syst ems.
Wi t hi n seconds t hey had l ocked on t o t he but t er f l i es, and moment s af t er t hat , al l
t hat was l ef t wer e bi t s of shi mmer y wi ngs, f l oat i ng t o t he gr ound.
Nudge, Angel , Ar i , Tot al , and I st ar ed at one anot her i n hor r or .

113
What do t hey have agai nst but t er f l i es? Nudge demanded, out r aged.
I t hi nk t he but t er f l i es wer e j ust an exampl e, I sai d. I t hi nk t he poi nt i s t hat
t hose t hi ngs ar e t i ny and deadl y and can f i nd t he pr over bi al needl e i n t he
bi ogenet i cal l y modi f i ed hayst ack.
Tot al shook hi s head, t hen l ay down and cover ed hi s eyes wi t h hi s paws. I t s al l
t oo much, he moaned. I mt oo sensi t i ve f or t hi s.
And now, we have saved t he best f or l ast , t he Di r ect or boomed over t he
l oudspeaker s. I gi ve you. . . Gener at i on Omega!
A boy came out . He l ooked about my age but was maybe a coupl e i nches shor t er t han
I was, and heavi er by about f or t y pounds. He had pal e br own hai r and si l ver y bl ue
eyes, and was wear i ng one of t he magi c sui t s, whi ch coul d change col or and f or mat a
ver bal command.
Oh, t hey gave hi mt he cut e gene, sai d Nudge, and Angel gi ggl ed.
The Di r ect or beamed at t he boy. He l ooked out at t he cr owd wi t hout expr essi on.
Omega her e i s our pi nnacl e achi evement , sai d t he Di r ect or , t he r esul t of mor e
t han si x decades of r esear ch. He i s an unqual i f i ed success and f ar sur passes any
hybr i d made bef or e.
Ouch, sai d Tot al .
I n Omega l i e our hopes and dr eams f or t he ut opi a of t he f ut ur e, t he Di r ect or
gushed. He i s t he key t o t he hyper evol ved human of t omor r ow. He s i mmune t o
vi r t ual l y ever y di sease known and has super acut e r ef l exes and gr eat l y i ncr eased
st r engt h. He t est s of f t he char t s of ever y i nt el l i gence scal e devi sed. I n addi t i on,
he has super i or memor y r et ent i on and r eact i on t i me. He s t r ul y a super man.
Pl us, he cooks l i ke a dr eamand makes dar l i ng f l or al ar r angement s i n hi s spar e
t i me, I mut t er ed.
And he s her e t o demonst r at e j ust how t ough he i s, how supr emel y sui t ed he i s t o
f or ge a new human exi st ence i n our br and- new wor l d.
Br and- new but f ul l of dead peopl e and empt y bui l di ngs, I sai d.
To begi n, Omega wi l l vanqui sh an obsol et e but somewhat successf ul human- avi an
hybr i d, sai d t he Di r ect or . And t hat wi l l be a symbol f or how ever yt hi ng wi l l go
f r omher e on.
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I st i f f ened and st ar ed at her .
The Di r ect or l ooked back at me.
Ri ght , Max? she sai d.

114
Have I ment i oned how much I can t st and despot i c psychopat hs? Why, yes, Max, you
have. Li ke, a coupl e hundr ed t i mes.
Wel l , i t s f or r easons l i ke t hi s.
Maxi mumRi de and Omega wi l l f i ght t o t he deat h, sai d t he Di r ect or mer r i l y, as i f
announci ng t he next cr oquet compet i t i on.
Max? Nudge whi sper ed, appal l ed.
Ar i gr abbed my ar mand st epped hal f way i n f r ont of me, t o pr ot ect me. I smi l ed at
hi mand shook my head sl i ght l y, and he st epped back wi t h an angr y f r own.
That guy want s t o ki l l you, Max, sai d Angel , soundi ng scar ed. Hi s whol e l i f e,
he s been t r ai ned t o ki l l you.
Of cour se. Because God f or bi d he shoul d have any ki nd of nor mal exi st ence,
wat chi ng TV, eat i ng Twi nki es, and so on.
Li ke a school of washed- out - gr ay f i sh, t he mut ant s al l t ur ned t o st ar e at me. They
par t ed, as i f Moses wer e wavi ng hi s st af f over t hem, and t hen Omega di d a hi gh
doubl e somer saul t of f t he st age, l andi ng per f ect l y on t he gr ay gr i t wi t h a bar el y
hear d cr unch.
Angel , i f you can, t hi s woul d be a good t i me t o mess wi t h hi s mi nd, I mur mur ed.
On i t , she sai d, but she di dn t sound hopef ul .
My hear t had ki cked i nt o hi gh gear , my f i st s wer e cl enched, and adr enal i ne was
whi ppi ng l i ke whi t e l i ght ni ng t hr ough my vei ns.
Fr omt he end of t he mut ant cor r i dor , Omega st ar t ed comi ng at me, doi ng one
handspr i ng af t er anot her , l eapi ng f or war d ont o hi s hands, f l i ppi ng over , t hen
l andi ng l i ght l y, a human ci r cl e. He coul d move i ncr edi bl y f ast , and wi t hi n seconds
hi s boot ed f eet l anded cr i spl y r i ght i n f r ont of me.
Omega snapped upr i ght , and f or a second, t hose si l ver y eyes l ooked col dl y i nt o
mi ne.
Bef or e he knew what was happeni ng, I had cocked my ar mback and sl ammed my f i st
i nt o hi s l ef t eye as har d as I coul d.
I can move pr et t y f ast t oo, when I want .
He st agger ed back but used t he ener gy f r ommy punch t o f uel a spi nni ng snap ki ck
t hat woul d have caught me r i ght i n t he neck i f I wer en t a gr eat f i ght er and t he
f ast est bi r d ki d ar ound.
I nst ead, I was r eady, and I gr abbed t he heel of hi s boot and whi pped i t t o t he
l ef t , yanki ng hi mof f bal ance so t hat he l anded har d on hi s back i n t he di r t .
Hoo- yah.
I n a spl i t second he spr ang up agai n. I bl ocked hi s har d el bow j ab t o my head, but
hi s ot her hand kni f ed i nt o my si de, r i ght over my ki dney. The pai n was i mmedi at e and
st unni ng; i t hur t so much t hat I want ed t o si nk t o my knees and t hr ow up.
But I hadn t been r ai sed t hat way.
I t s j ust pai n, I t ol d mysel f . Pai n i s mer el y a message, and you can i gnor e t he
message.
So I st ayed on my f eet , sucked i n a br eat h, and smacked my open pal magai nst hi s
ear wi t h al l my f or ce. Hi s f ace cr umpl ed, and hi s mout h opened i n a br i ef , si l ent
scr eam. I hoped I d r upt ur ed hi s ear dr um. But al l t oo qui ckl y, hi s f ace st r ai ght ened
out and he l unged at me agai n, el bowi ng me i n t he r i bs and t hen choppi ng t he back of
my neck wi t h t he edge of hi s hand.
Pai n i s mer el y a message. Ri ght now I was hol di ng al l cal l s.
I managed t o spi n and ki ck hi mhar d i n t he si de, t hen f ol l owed wi t h a snap ki ck
r i ght i nt o hi s spi ne. I f he d been an or di nar y human, i t woul d have br oken hi s back.
But Omega j ust st agger ed, i nst ant l y r i ght ed hi msel f , and came r oar i ng back f ul l
f or ce.
Usual l y I t r y not t o ki l l peopl e, cause I mj ust a sof t i e t hat way. Even Ar i - I
onl y ki l l ed hi mby acci dent . But I deci ded t hat si nce my ex- momhad sai d t hi s was a
f i ght t o t he deat h, i n a way I ki nd of had per mi ssi on t o ki l l t hi s wei ner . And yes,
I mwor r i ed about t he st at e of my soul and kar ma and bl ah bl ah bl ah, but r i ght now I
want ed t o l i ve, t o come out of t hi s bat t l e al i ve. So I woul d deal wi t h my kar ma
l at er . And i f I came back as a r oach i n t he next l i f e, wel l , at l east I d sur vi ve
t he nucl ear hol ocaust .
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I di d a spi nni ng ki ck wher e I l i t er al l y l ooked l i ke a pr opel l er , bot h f eet of f t he
gr ound, sci ssor i ng at Omega wi t h my power f ul l egs. One ki ck caught hi mhar d i n hi s
back, and he l ur ched f or war d. As he t r i ed t o bl ock t he next one and gr ab my boot , I
sl ammed r i ght i nt o t he back of hi s per f ect l i t t l e head and knocked hi mt o t he
gr ound.
I n seconds I had spr ung ont o hi s back, gr abbed one ar mbehi nd hi m, and yanked
har d, up and t o t he l ef t .
Hi s ar mpopped out of i t s socket wi t h a st omach- chur ni ng
t hunk sound.
Maybe you shoul d change your name t o Thet a, I hi ssed i nt o hi s ear as he gasped,
f acedown i n t he di r t . Or Epsi l on.
Okay, now, t he shoul der di sl ocat i on, I have t o t el l you, st opped most peopl e col d.
My. . . name. . . i s. . . Omega, he gr ound out .
Then he j er ked upwar d, t hr owi ng me of f as hi s shoul der j oi nt popped l oudl y back
i nt o pl ace. He gr i maced, t hen came af t er me agai n, mur der i n hi s bl oodshot , si l ver y
eyes.

115
Dat e: Al r eady Too Lat e!
You ar e vi si t or number : Thi ng i s st i l l br oken.
Wat ch Out , Guys, Her e We Come
I t s about f i ve a. m. We shoul d be sneaki ng on boar d t he car go pl ane soon. I ve l et
t he ot her s sl eep as much as t hey can- and of cour se now I mso wi ped I can t t hi nk
st r ai ght . I l l t r y t o gr ab some zzz s on t he pl ane. Once i t s up i n t he ai r , we r e
gol den. We r e pr obabl y t he onl y peopl e i n t he wor l d who don t wor r y about pl ane
cr ashes. I f somet hi ng happens t o t hi s pl ane and we st ar t goi ng down, I l l be l i ke,
l at er !
I hope Max i s okay. Any of you guys- i f you r e ar ound Lendehei m, Ger many, go t o t he
cast l e t her e and r ai se heck, okay?
- Fang
A sl i ght sound made Fang qui t t ypi ng. He l i st ened. I t wasn t dawn yet - t hr ough t he
hangar wi ndows he coul d see t he gl ow of t he amber saf et y l i ght s out si de. Maybe t he
l oadi ng guys had shown up ear l y.
And maybe Fang had been bor n yest er day and was a gul l i bl e numskul l .
Si l ent l y he cl osed hi s l apt op and st ashed i t i n hi s backpack. Then he sl i d over t o
t he ot her s and t ouched t hei r l egs. They woke i nst ant l y, wi t h no sound, t he way
t hey d been t r ai ned.
The Gasman l ooked at Fang. Fang put a f i nger t o hi s l i ps, and t he Gasman nodded.
Fang r eached over and t apped t he back of I ggy s hand t wi ce.
I ggy sat up car ef ul l y and nodded al so.
Then t hei r wor l d i mpl oded: The enor mous met al door s at t he hangar ent r ance opened
wi t h ear spl i t t i ng cr eaks; t he gl ass door by t he hangar of f i ce shat t er ed i nwar d; and
t wo hi gh wi ndows on t he ot her si de br oke as Fl yboys began cr awl i ng t hr ough l i ke
angr y, angr y wasps.
Get out si de! Fang or der ed t he boys. I ggy, open door s r i ght i n f r ont , t wel ve
o cl ock!
The t r i ck t o havi ng obedi ent , unquest i oni ng chi l dr en was t o have deat h be t he
ot her opt i on, Fang t hought as he r aced t owar d t he oncomi ng Fl yboys.
Ther e wer e dozens of t hem, some r unni ng i n, weapons r eady; some ai r bor ne, swoopi ng
down l i ke bi g but t - ugl y i nsect s. They opened f i r e: Bul l et s began r i cochet i ng of f t he
met al hangar wal l s, of f t he pal l et mover s and Bobcat s.
Fang f l ew st r ai ght t hr ough t he cr owd of Fl yboys. Sever al of t heml anded bl ows on
hi m, maki ng hi msuck i n hi s br eat h, but he st ayed al of t and made i t out si de.
I nst ant l y a bul l et gr azed hi s shoul der . Hi ssi ng, he gl anced down, saw i t was j ust a
sur f ace wound, and r aced upwar d. Ther e! He saw t he Gasman and I ggy al so out si de.
Excel l ent . Now, i f t hey coul d al l meet up and somehow l ose t hese sucker s. . . somehow?
Fang dar t ed her e and t her e, keepi ng hi s wi ngs i n cl ose, t he way t he hawks had. He
banked and maneuver ed t i ght l y, abl e t o move much f ast er and mor e ni mbl y t han t he
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Fl yboys.
He coul d st i l l hear shot s f r omi nsi de t he hangar , and he had a moment t o t hi nk,
They mi ght not want t o be shoot i ng so cl ose t o t hat pl ane s gas t ank, t hen boom! As
i n- BOOM! The met al r oof of t he hangar bl ew upwar d, and a massi ve f i r ebal l boi l ed
out . J agged chunks of met al f l ew ever ywher e, and Fang saw t he Gasman t ake a hot
shar d acr oss hi s f ace. The Gasman gasped and put one hand t o hi s cheek but st i l l
managed t o punch bot h of hi s f eet i nt o a Fl yboy s chest , knocki ng i t si deways.
The Fl yboys wer en t gr eat at f l yi ng si deways, and bef or e t hat one coul d r i ght
i t sel f , i t cr ashed t o t he gr ound.
Bi t s of ot her expl oded Fl yboys r ai ned ar ound t hem. Fang swooped down, gr abbed a
f al l en weapon, t hen r ocket ed back i nt o t he ai r . He t r i ed t o f i r e t he gun, t ook a
second t o f i nd t he saf et y, t hen l et r i p a hai l of bul l et s at a l i ne of maybe t en
Fl yboys. I t ef f ect i vel y mowed t hemdown, and Fang ser i ousl y quest i oned Max s no
guns r ul e.
You wi l l di e t oday, sever al Fl yboys pr omi sed i n t hei r wei r d met al l i c voi ces. We
ar e her e t o ki l l you and t he ot her s. Max and t he r est of your f l ock ar e al r eady
dead. Now i t i s your t ur n.

116
Fang f el t a col d j ol t , t hen di smi ssed i t . Max wasn t dead. He woul d know, somehow.
He woul d have f el t i t . The wor l d st i l l f el t t he same t o hi m; t her ef or e, Max was
st i l l i n i t .
We ar e her e t o ki l l you, t he Fl yboys i nt oned al l t oget her .
Then you r e out of l uck, Fang snar l ed, and opened f i r e agai n. Anot her t en
Fl yboys dr opped, hi t t i ng t he gr ound wi t h somewhat si ckeni ng cr unchi ng and spl at t i ng
sounds.
You wi l l not di e easi l y, yet anot her Fl yboy dr oned.
You got t hat r i ght . Fang had never seen so many Fl yboys bef or e- t her e must have
been t hr ee hundr ed? Mor e? The Gasman and I ggy wer e st i l l hol di ng t hei r own- t he
Fl yboys seemed t o be t r yi ng t o capt ur e t hemi nst ead of ki l l t hemout r i ght . Because
what woul d be t he f un of t hat ? Fang t hought .
Fi r st we wi l l di smember you, sai d a Fl yboy. We wi l l post t he pi ct ur es on your
bl og. To show what happens when you r esi st . Then we wi l l make you r ecant ever yt hi ng
you have sai d on your bl og.
Fang gr i nned, cont i nui ng t o bob and weave up and down by f i f t een- f oot dr ops.
Af t er you di smember me? Di d you f ai l basi c human bi ol ogy?
We wi l l t or t ur e you, t he Fl yboys pr essed on.
I don t t hi nk so, sai d Fang, and mowed t hemdown. God! The whol e f i r i ng- a- weapon
t hi ng was amazi ng! I t j ust wor ked so i ncr edi bl y wel l ! I t was so ef f i ci ent ! What di d
Max have agai nst guns, anyway?
We wi l l show t he wor l d how you t ake back ever yt hi ng you sai d. A new,
unmowed- down cr op of Fl yboys cont i nued t he same ol d song.
Her e s a t i p, Fang advi sed t hem. I f you show me bei ng t or t ur ed and t hen t aki ng
ever yt hi ng back, peopl e mi ght cat ch on. They mi ght act ual l y guess t hat I di dn t do
i t vol unt ar i l y.
We wi l l t or t ur e you, t he Fl yboys i nsi st ed.
Okay, bor ed now, Fang sai d, and pul l ed t he t r i gger . Onl y t o have not hi ng happen.
Maybe t he gun was empt y. I n an i nst ant he d swooped and t r i ed t o pl uck anot her gun
f r oma cr umpl ed Fl yboy body. That gun was at t ached t o i t s Fl yboy, t hough, so Fang
ended up bei ng yanked t o t he gr ound. He dr opped i t , r an a bi t t o get away f r om
gr ound- based Fl yboys, t hen f i nal l y f ound an unat t ached gun.
Spi nni ng, he f i r ed, cat chi ng al l t he Fl yboys di r ect l y behi nd hi m. Then he changed
angl es and shot up i nt o t he sky, wat chi ng wi t h sat i sf act i on as sever al Fl yboys
st ar t ed f l yi ng l opsi dedl y, smoke st r eami ng of f t hem.
Hey! shout ed t he Gasman f r omabove. Wat ch t hat t hi ng! Fang l ooked up t o see
t he Gasman poi nt i ng t o t wo hol es i n hi s j eans- Fang had shot r i ght t hr ough hi s pant s,
but amazi ngl y hadn t hi t hi m.
My bad! Fang yel l ed. The dr awback wi t h guns, besi des t he f act t hat you mi ght hi t
member s of your own f l ock, was t hat t hey di dn t t ake out hundr eds of bad guys al l at
once. He needed somet hi ng mor e massi ve. I f I ggy or t he Gasman had had any bombs,
t hey woul d have used t hemby now. I t was up t o Fang.
He l eaped i nt o t he chi l l y ai r agai n, shoot i ng mor e car ef ul l y at Fl yboys. When he
was about f i ve hundr ed f eet up, he saw a br oad expanse of gr ay wi t h a r i mof f i r e at
Page 91
i t s f ar edge.
The ocean. Wi t h t he sun br eaki ng at t he hor i zon.
I t i s your t i me t o di e, dr oned a f ul l squadr on of Fl yboys, f ol l owi ng hi m.
I amone of many! Fang shout ed, headi ng east , away f r omt he hangar . I amone of
many! You have no i dea!

117
I was br aced and r eady t o l aunch i nt o my next move agai nst Omega when I hear d t he
Di r ect or s voi ce boom, Wai t !
I wasn t about t o st ar t l i st eni ng t o her now, and I spr ang f or war d, f i nger s st i f f
t o shat t er hi s t r achea-
But t he met al col l ar ar ound my neck zapped me wi t h a ner ve- shat t er i ng dose of
el ect r i ci t y, and I dr opped t o t he gr ound l i ke a chunk of cement .
A whi l e back, I d been hi t wi t h a bunch of skul l - expl odi ng headaches t hat had l ef t
me weak and nauseat ed; t hi s was a l ot l i ke t hat . When my scr ambl ed br ai n f i nal l y
cl ear ed and my synapses began f i r i ng agai n, I was on my back wi t h my wor r i ed
mi ni f l ock p
eer i ng down at me.
I shot t o my f eet as f ast as I coul d, a l i t t l e of f bal ance, t o see Omega st andi ng
t o one si de, r amr od st r ai ght l i ke a sol di er , not l ooki ng at me.
I shot Nudge a quest i oni ng gl ance, and she shr ugged.
You have ant i ci pat ed my commands, sai d t he Di r ect or , soundi ng unt hr i l l ed.
I di dn t st ar t i t , l ady, I was goi ng t o say, but t hen I r emember ed t hat ,
t echni cal l y, I had, so I kept my mout h shut .
The f i r st par t of t he bat t l e wi l l be a t est of speed, sai d t he Di r ect or .
The cr owd of l emmi ngs par t ed i n ant i ci pat i on of a r ace.
Begi n wher e you ar e, i nt oned t he Di r ect or . Run t o t he opposi t e cast l e wal l and
back, f our t i mes. May t he bet t er man wi n.
I gr i t t ed my t eet h. The Di r ect or was a sexi st pi g on t op of al l her ot her f aul t s.
The wal l was about si x hundr ed yar ds away. Ther e and back, f our t i mes.
Someone scr aped a l i ne i n t he di r t wi t h hi s boot , and Omega and I st ood on i t .
What el se coul d I do? I was shook up and bar f y f r omt he el ect r i c shock. I di dn t
t hi nk bei ng a consci ent i ous obj ect or woul d go over wel l at t hi s poi nt .
Omega seemed unr uf f l ed, cool , and not l i ke he d j ust popped hi s shoul der back i nt o
pl ace.
You can t wi n, he sai d cal ml y, not l ooki ng at me. No human can r un f ast er t han
I can.
Bi t e me, I r epl i ed, and l eaned over t o get a good st ar t . Al so, wat ch my dust !
Go! t he Di r ect or cr i ed, and we wer e of f .
Wel l . I must say, Omega was a speedy l i t t l e sucker , I l l gi ve hi mt hat . He hi t t he
opposi t e wal l sever al seconds ahead of me, and I was dang f ast , and t al l er t han he
was. By our t hi r d l ap, he had about a quar t er l engt h on me. Nei t her one of us was
br eat hi ng t hat har d- he was Super boy, and I was desi gned t o be abl e t o br eat he i n
ver y t hi n ai r , way up hi gh.
But he had no emot i on- he wasn t angr y, di dn t seemdet er mi ned t o wi n at al l cost s,
di dn t seemi nvest ed i n beat i ng me.
Whi ch made t hr ee mor e di f f er ences bet ween us.
Fi nal l y we wer e on t he l ast l ap. He had al most a t hr ee- quar t er - l engt h l ead on me.
The cr owd was si l ent - no one dar ed cheer . The onl y sounds wer e our br eat hi ng and t he
poundi ng of our boot s on t he gr ound.
When Omega was about t hi r t y yar ds away f r omwhi ppi ng my but t , I suddenl y dove
f or war d, pul l ed out my wi ngs, and went ai r bor ne. I t hought I hear d t he cr owd gasp.
Keepi ng ver y l ow t o avoi d t he el ect r i f i ed net at t he t op of t he cast l e wal l s,
whi ch Max I I had war ned us about , I st r eaked t owar d t he f i ni sh, my wi ngs wor ki ng
smoot hl y. I t i l t ed as I passed Super boy, so I woul dn t whap t he back of hi s head
wi t h a wi ng- t empt i ng t hough i t was.
Then I shot acr oss t he f i ni sh l i ne, t en f eet ahead of hi m, and r an t o a somewhat
cl umsy hal t , t r yi ng not t o car een i nt o t he gr ay sea of spect at or s.
I st ood up, br eat hi ng har d, and punched my f i st i n t he ai r . Max, one!

118
Cheat i ng di squal i f i es you! The Di r ect or sai d, l ooki ng mad.
I di dn t cheat ! Di d you say no f l yi ng ? Di d anyone say no f l yi ng ? No.
Page 92
I t was a r ace on t he gr ound!
Agai n, sai d who? J ust because Wonder l ad i s st uck t o t he gr ound doesn t mean I
have t o be. I ve evol ved past bei ng st uck t o t he gr ound.
Now t he Di r ect or l ooked r eal l y mad. The sea of i ndi st i nct f aces mur mur ed; f eet
shi f t ed on t he gr ound. I f ol ded my wi ngs i n, awar e of dozens of eyes wat chi ng me.
You ar e di squal i f i ed, t he Di r ect or sai d shor t l y. Omega i s t he wi nner .
What ever , I sai d, pushi ng down my di sgust . I shot Omega a si deways gl ance. Does
she t i e your shoes f or you t oo?
Hi s per f ect eyebr ows dr ew t oget her , but he di dn t speak.
Nudge and Angel t ook my hands and st ood cl ose, and Ar i came up behi nd me, as i f t o
pr ot ect my back. I f el t ver y comf or t ed by t hei r bei ng t her e. I woul d have f el t even
bet t er i f I had seen Fang st andi ng wi t h me, r eady t o back me up.
Next wi l l be a cont est of st r engt h, sai d t he Di r ect or . Omega s muscl es ar e
appr oxi mat el y f our hundr ed per cent st r onger and denser t han a r egul ar boy s. Br i ng
out t he wei ght s!
I amwei r dl y, wi ckedl y st r ong, and not j ust f or a gi r l , not j ust f or my age. I m
st r onger t han j ust about any gr own- up, man or woman. We al l ar e. But I di dn t have
t he bul k t hat Super boy di d, and i n gener al I was desi gned t o be smar t and f ast , and
t o f l y wel l . Not t o be abl e t o compet e i n a t r act or pul l .
I t r eal l y was a t r act or pul l , i n a way. Heavy wei ght s wer e l oaded ont o a wooden
pl at f or m. We wer e each gi ven a t hi ck chai n. The i dea was l i t er al l y t o pul l t he
pl at f or macr oss t he di r t . We wer e even unt i l about f i ve hundr ed pounds, t hen
Super boy st ar t ed t o edge past me. I coul d bar el y budge si x hundr ed and f i f t y
pounds- he pul l ed i t t hr ee f eet .
They pi l ed on mor e wei ght - ei ght hundr ed pounds. I coul dn t bel i eve I was goi ng t o
l ose a st r engt h cont est t o a boy. Ther e was no way.
I gr i t t ed my t eet h, cr acked my knuckl es, and put t he chai n over my al r eady br ui sed
shoul der . Omega and I l ooked at each ot her , si de by si de. When t he Di r ect or bl ew
shar pl y on her whi st l e, I put my head down, pl ant ed my f eet i n t he di r t , and pul l ed
wi t h al l my mi ght . Sweat br oke out on my f or ehead. I t f el t as t hough t he chai n wer e
wear i ng a f ur r ow i n my shoul der . Br eat h hi ssed t hr ough my cl enched t eet h.
I made t he pl at f or mt r embl e a l i t t l e, moved i t maybe a quar t er of an i nch.
Omega haul ed i t al most a f oot .
When he was pr onounced t he wi nner , he l ooked at me wi t h t hose wei r d,
expr essi onl ess eyes. I di dn t t hi nk he was a r obot , l i ke t he Fl yboys, but I di d
wonder i f hi s emot i ons had been desi gned out of hi m. Of cour se, wi t h a guy, how
coul d I t el l ? Ha ha!
Anyway.
You mi ght not know t hi s about me, but I hat e l osi ng. I mnot a good spor t , I mnot
gr aci ous i n def eat , and I hat ed Omega f or maki ng me l ose. I was gonna get hi m. I
di dn t know how, I di dn t know when, but I knew I woul d.
The next cont est wi l l be i nt el l i gence. The Di r ect or l ooked smug.
I al most gr oaned. Of cour se I mr eal l y shar p, r eal l y br i ght . But I d had al most no
school i ng. What I knew I d l ear ned ei t her f r omt el evi si on or f r omJ eb. I knew a l ot
about how t o f i ght , how t o sur vi ve. I knew a bi t about some pl aces, l i ke Egypt and
Mongol i a, f r omNat i onal Geogr aphi c. But I di dn t have much book l ear ni ng at al l . The
coupl e of mont hs I d spent at t hat hel l hol e of a school i n Vi r gi ni a had shown me
t hat compar ed wi t h most ki ds my age, I was a vi l l age i di ot . J ust i n t er ms of book
l ear ni ng. Not about st uf f t hat mat t er ed.
Fi r st quest i on, sai d t he Di r ect or . The cr owd t ur ned t o wat ch me and Omega i n our
duel of wi t s. The cast l e wal l s ar e ei ght een f eet hi gh, seven f eet t hi ck, and one
t housand, t went y- seven f eet l ong. One cubi c yar d of st one and mor t ar wei ghs one
t housand, one hundr ed t went y pounds, or exact l y hal f a t on. How many t ons of st one
and mor t ar ar e cont ai ned wi t hi n t he wal l s?
Omega l ooked of f i nt o t he di st ance, obvi ousl y st ar t i ng t o cal cul at e.
You ar e ki ddi ng me, I sai d. Why woul d I ever need t o know t hat ?
Li ke, i f you had t o make r epai r s? Nudge guessed.
Coul dn t I j ust hi r e a wal l r epai r company? I asked.
I t s a si mpl e cal cul at i on, sai d t he Di r ect or , st i l l smug.
Yeah? Let s see you do i t .
Her cheeks f l ushed, but she st ood t al l . Ar e you concedi ng?
I mnot concedi ng anyt hi ng, I sai d. I mj ust sayi ng i t s compl et el y poi nt l ess.
How about I j ust pi ck a l ock i nst ead? Me and Omega. Let s see who can do i t f ast er .
Page 93
Two t housand, t hr ee hundr ed ni net y- si x poi nt t hr ee t hr ee t ons, sai d Omega.
Okay, smar t yboot s, how about i f you r e f l yi ng at ei ght een t housand f eet at , say,
a hundr ed and f or t y mi l es an hour , I sai d. You r e f aci ng a sout hwest wi nd of about
seven knot s. How l ong woul d i t t ake you t o f l y f r omPhi l adel phi a t o Bi l l i ngs,
Mont ana?
Omega f r owned as he st ar t ed t o wor k t he mat h.
Ar e you sayi ng you know how t o make t hat cal cul at i on? t he Di r ect or asked.
I msayi ng I msmar t enough t o know t hat I l l get t her e when I get t her e! I
al most shout ed. The quest i ons t hemsel ves ar e dumb: They don t have anyt hi ng t o do
wi t h bei ng abl e t o sur vi ve.
I n t he new wor l d t hey do, Max, sai d t he Di r ect or . Maybe not i n your wor l d. But
your wor l d i s over .

119
I was havi ng a r eal l y bad day. These t est s wer e a wast e of t i me. I was expect i ng
t o get j ol t ed wi t h a l i ght ni ng bol t of el ect r i ci t y at any moment . I was l osi ng t o a
boy. St i l l r emai ni ng i n t hi s cont est was a f i ght t o t he deat h.
And Fang st i l l wasn t her e.
I knew he hadn t had enough t i me t o get her e. Ther e was a r easonabl e hope t hat he
coul d be her e wi t hi n t he next si x hour s or so. But he wasn t her e now, and I was
r eachi ng my br eaki ng poi nt .
I l ooked at Nudge and Angel . Nudge seemed ver y t ense, and her f i nger s wer e cur l i ng
at her si des. Angel had t hat scar y i nt ent expr essi on she got r i ght bef or e she
convi nced a st r anger t o do somet hi ng. Al l of a sudden, I r emember ed t hat Dr .
Mar t i nez was my r eal mom. Pr obabl y. I d been l i ed t o so many t i mes t hat i t was har d
f or me t o accept anyt hi ng as f act . But she mi ght have been my r eal mom.
I want ed t o see her . And my si st er , El l a.
I needed t o get out of her e.
Next t o Angel , one of t he mut ant s f r owned, l ooki ng conf used. She bl i nked. I saw
Angel st ar e at her , concent r at i ng. Uh- oh. Then t he mut ant l eaned t o t he one next t o
her and whi sper ed somet hi ng so sof t l y I coul dn t hear i t .
Angel l ooked pl eased, and my st omach knot t ed up.
What s goi ng on, sweet i e? I whi sper ed t hr ough cl enched t eet h.
Thi ngs ar e goi ng t o get exci t i ng, Angel sai d wi t h sat i sf act i on.
Def i ne exci t i ng, I sai d caut i ousl y.
Angel t hought . Ever yone f r eaki ng out ? she of f er ed.
Uh. . . i n a good way?
I n an exci t i ng way, she sai d, wat chi ng t he cr owd.
Now we come t o t he def i ni t i ve bat t l e, t he Di r ect or sai d i nt o t he l oudspeaker .
Ri ght t hen, al l heck br oke l oose. The best way t o descr i be i t woul d be t o say t hat
suddenl y ever yone dr ank cr azy j ui ce and went haywi r e. Mut ant s spont aneousl y began
f i ght i ng wi t h one anot her . Some of t hemhad cl ear l y been t r ai ned t o be sol di er s, but
t her e was qui t e a bi t of cat f i ght f ace- sl appi ng and shovi ng goi ng on t oo.
Peopl e! t he Di r ect or yel l ed i nt o her l oudspeaker . Peopl e! What i s goi ng on?
They don t want t o be her e anymor e, Angel sai d, wat chi ng t hem.
We don t want t o be her e anymor e! t he cr owd yel l ed.
They r e t i r ed of bei ng t r eat ed l i ke number s and exper i ment s, Angel expl ai ned.
We r e not number s! I hear d angr y voi ces cr y. We r e not exper i ment s!
Hmm, I sai d, scanni ng t he ar ea, l ooki ng f or ways t o escape.
They f eel l i ke pawns, Angel went on.
We r e not j ust pawns! t he mut ant s yel l ed.
They r e peopl e t oo, even i f t hey wer e j ust cl oned and cr eat ed, Angel sai d,
st eppi ng cl oser t o me and t aki ng my hand.
We r e peopl e t oo! voi ces shout ed. We r e peopl e t oo!
O- kaaay, I sai d, and qui ckl y gat her ed Nudge, Angel , Ar i , and Tot al . Let s get
out of her e. We l l make our way t o t he wal l and go al ong i t t i l l we see a way t o
br eak out . They nodded and we began t o move t hr ough t he cr owd, dodgi ng f l yi ng f i st s
and angr y shovi ng.
Robot s! yel l ed t he Di r ect or , and ever ywher e, t he r obot s st ood at at t ent i on and
ar med t hei r weapons. Get t hi s cr owd under cont r ol !

120
Yeah, because i t wasn t bad enough, wi t h ever yone f i ght i ng. Now we had t o get t he
Page 94
bl oodt hi r st y r obot s i nvol ved. And t hey had guns.
We cont i nued t o push t hr ough t he cr owd, t r yi ng t o r each a cast l e wal l . I saw
Fl yboys st ar t i ng t o wade i nt o t he cr owd of angr y, f i ght i ng peopl e.
Why ar e t hey f i ght i ng each ot her ? Nudge asked, cl ose t o my shoul der . They
shoul d al l gang up on t he Fl yboys.
Angel l ooked ar ound. Oh. Yeah.
She st ood st i l l f or a mi nut e, her br ow f ur r owed wi t h mi ght y concent r at i on. Then,
one by one, al l ar ound us, mut ant s sl owed down i n t hei r f i ght , l ooked ar ound, t hen
t ur ned t o at t ack t he Fl yboys.
I gr abbed Angel s hand and st ar t ed t o push t hr ough t he cr owd agai n, keepi ng l ow.
You ar e a scar y, scar y chi l d, you know t hat ? I asked her .
She smi l ed.
I al most wal ked r i ght i nt o a t hi ck l i ne of Fl yboys. Looki ng up, I saw sol emn
Er aser f aces wi t h gl owi ng r ed r obot eyes.
You must st op, i nt oned one.
I di sagr ee. I n an i nst ant I l aunched mysel f at i t , t r yi ng t o knock i t of f
bal ance. I t was t he second- t o- l ast model , and I knocked i t s weapon out of i t s hands.
But not f ast enough t o avoi d anot her Fl yboy cl ocki ng me i n t he head wi t h t he but t
of i t s gun. I st agger ed as a st ar bur st of pai n expl oded behi nd my ear . A second
l at er , war mbl ood st ar t ed r unni ng down i nt o my col l ar .
My f l ock spr ang i nt o act i on. Nudge j umped hi gh i n t he ai r , whi ppi ng out her wi ngs
t o hover bel ow t he el ect r i f i ed net but above t he f r ay. Tot al chomped down har d on a
Fl yboy s ankl e, and I coul d hear hi s f angs hi t t he met al bel ow t he t hi n l ayer of
ski n.
The base of t hei r spi nes! I hear d a voi ce cal l f r ombehi nd.
I spun t o see J eb wadi ng t hr ough t he cr owd t owar d us, dodgi ng punches and ki cks.
Hi t t he Fl yboys at t he base of t hei r spi nes, he sai d. I t s a desi gn f l aw.
I had zer o r eason t o t r ust hi m, despi t e al l hi s yappi ng about bei ng my dad, bl ah
bl ah bl ah. St i l l , I had not hi ng t o l ose. Wheel i ng, I escaped my Fl yboy and whi pped
ar ound i n back of anot her one. As har d as I coul d, I ai med a f l yi ng si deways ki ck
wi t h bot h f eet r i ght at i t s t ai l bone ar ea.
Cr ack! I t s l egs cr umpl ed, and i t snapped f or war d f r omt he hi ps, unabl e t o move. A
coupl e seconds l at er , t he r ed gl ow i n i t s eyes f aded.
Huh. Whadaya know.

121
Then i t was l i ke a f l ashback t o when I was el even year s ol d, f i ght i ng si de by si de
wi t h J eb. He was t he one who d t aught us t o f i ght so wel l , t o wi n at any cost . I t
was J eb who d t aught us t o never pl ay f ai r , never t el egr aph our punches, al ways use
any means t o wi n a bat t l e. Now, wi t h hi mt aki ng out Fl yboys r i ght next t o me, i t was
j ust l i ke t hose t r ai ni ng days, l i ke I was a l i t t l e ki d agai n, pr et endi ng he was my
dad.
Bl ock i t ! J eb yel l ed, yanki ng me of f memor y l ane. I nst i nct i vel y I t hr ew my ar m
up i n t i me t o bl ock a Fl yboy s over hand punch.
Nudge! Angel ! At t ack t he base of t hei r spi nes! I shout ed. Snap t hem!
The f i ght began t o t ur n i n our f avor t hen. As l ong as we coul d get behi nd a
Fl yboy, we coul d t ake i t out about 80 per cent of t he t i me, whi ch was al l we needed.
Some of t he mut ant s, however , di dn t seemt o have got t en Angel s l at est memo and
wer e st i l l f i ght i ng one anot her , and us t oo.
Behi nd me, Ar i was usi ng hi s enor mous st r engt h t o l i t er al l y t oss smal l er mut ant s
over hi s head i nt o t he mosh pi t of deat h t hat made up t he cast l e cour t yar d. He saw
me snap a Fl yboy s back, and he spun t o do t he same. The Fl yboy managed t o cat ch Ar i
wi t h a har d punch under hi s j aw, and I saw hi s head j er k upwar d.
Roar i ng wi t h f ur y, Ar i r i ght ed hi msel f and l unged at hi s at t acker . . . onl y t o si nk
t o hi s knees sl owl y, a puzzl ed l ook on hi s f ace.
Cover me! I shout ed at Nudge, Angel , and Tot al , and spr ang t o Ar i s si de.
I gr abbed hi munder one ar mand t r i ed t o hel p hi mst and. I coul dn t get hi mup.
Max? he sai d, soundi ng conf used.
You hur t ? You get shot ? Wher e? I demanded.
He l ooked down at hi s shi r t and j acket . Ther e wer e no spr eadi ng r oset t es of bl ood.
He shook hi s head. I j ust . . .
He gl anced up at me, and t her e he was- seven- year - ol d Ar i , t he l i t t l e ki d who used
t o f ol l ow me ar ound. I saw hi mt her e cl ear l y i n t hose eyes.
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I j ust . . . Oh, Max, Ar i sai d, and t hen he sl umped agai nst me, eyes st i l l open,
wei ght so heavy on me t hat I f el l t o my knees next t o hi m. I st ar ed at hi s f ace,
shook hi s shoul der .
Ar i ! I sai d. Ar i ! Come on, snap out of i t ! Pl ease, Ar i ?
Al l ar ound us, t he bat t l e t hr ashed on, but Ar i was si l ent .
Ar i ? Hor r i f i ed, I pr essed t wo f i nger s agai nst hi s neck, f eel i ng f or a pul se.
Ar i s t i me had come. He had expi r ed.
Ri ght her e, r i ght now, i n my ar ms.

122
Oh, God. I f el t as i f my br eat h, my spi r i t , had been knocked out of me. For
sever al seconds I j ust st ar ed numbl y at Ar i s r ui ned f ace, hi s unseei ng eyes. My
t hr oat was gr i pped t i ght wi t h emot i on, and I br ushed my f i nger s over hi s eyel i ds,
cl osi ng t hem.
Thi s poor , poor ki d. I hoped wher ever he was, he was no l onger i n pai n, no l onger
ugl y, no l onger unl oved and unwant ed. Hot t ear s spr ang t o my eyes, and I want ed t o
sob.
Swal l owi ng har d a bunch of t i mes, I l ooked up and saw t hat ever yone ar ound me was
st i l l engaged i n a l i f e- or - deat h bat t l e. They had no t i me t o hel p me, no t i me t o
acknowl edge Ar i s deat h. A whi st l i ng noi se next t o my ear made me r eal i ze t hat I was
st i l l under at t ack mysel f - a Fl yboy had j ust swung i t s weapon at me, t r yi ng t o cr ush
my skul l .
Feel i ng hel pl ess and f ur i ous, I gent l y l ay Ar i down i n t he di r t . I l l come get
you, I pr omi sed i n a whi sper . Then, enr aged, I l eaped up, gr abbi ng t he f i r st Fl yboy
i n my way. I t wi st ed i t s neck as har d as I coul d. The Fl yboy f el l , and I moved on,
smashi ng anot her i n t he back, dr oppi ng i t l i ke a sack of r ot t en gr ocer i es. Roar i ng
wi t h f ur y, I r i pped t he weapon f r oma downed Fl yboy and swung i t ar ound my head,
cr acki ng i t agai nst t hr ee mor e r obot s, knocki ng t hemof f bal ance, sl owi ng t hemdown
so t hat J eb and Nudge coul d t ake t hemout f r ombehi nd.
Ar i was dead, and f or what ? Why had t hi s happened t o hi m? Why had hi s l i f e been
seven year s of pai n and conf usi on and l onel i ness?
Ar i ! J eb had f i nal l y seen hi s son. He r ushed t o Ar i s si de and knel t next t o
hi m. Looki ng st unned, he gat her ed Ar i s hul ki ng f or mand hel d hi mt o hi s chest . I m
so sor r y. I saw hi s mout h shape t he wor ds, t hough I coul dn t hear t hem. I mso
sor r y. He bent over Ar i s f or m, mi ndl ess of hi s vul ner abl e posi t i on.
Then he l ooked up and caught my eye. Hi s eyes wer e shi ny wi t h t ear s, whi ch shocked
me. He pi t ched hi s voi ce so I coul d hear hi m. Omega can t t r ack t hi ngs f ast wi t h
hi s eyes.
I wai t ed f or mor e, but t hat was i t . I t ur ned and whal ed back i nt o t he f i ght ,
t r yi ng t o accompl i sh t he uni ver sal goal of ever y war r i or ever ywher e: Get t he ot her
guy. Do not l et hi mget you.
So bi g whoop: Omega coul dn t t r ack t hi ngs wel l . Thanks, J eb! Any ot her t i dbi t s of
wi sdomf or me? Li ke Omega has an of f swi t ch?
Who knew wher e t he heck Omega was, anyway? For al l I knew he was up on t he st age,
get t i ng a mani cur e.
Swi ngi ng my weapon l i ke a basebal l bat , I f el t t he sat i sf yi ng but bone- j ol t i ng
t hwack! as i t sl ammed i nt o a Fl yboy s shoul der . I t t ur ned, and I swung at t he base
of i t s spi ne. Cr ack! Anot her Fl yboy shor t ened t o t he hei ght of a cof f ee t abl e.
She says we must f i ght .
The qui et wor ds spoken near my nonbl oody ear made me wheel t o f ace. . . Omega. He
l ooked spi ck- and- span, as i f he d managed t o si t t hi s one out .
You don t have t o do ever yt hi ng she t el l s you, I sai d, st i l l l ungi ng and f endi ng
of f Fl yboys. The gun f l ew out of my hand.
Omega spoke t o t he Fl yboys ar ound us: St op. She i s mi ne.
Whi ch made me even madder , i f possi bl e. I m. . . not . . . anyone s!
The f act t hat t he Fl yboys l i st ened t o hi mand moved on t o ot her t ar get s made me
see r ed, and i t wasn t j ust t he bl ood r unni ng i nt o my eyes. Though of cour se t hat
di dn t hel p.
We must f i ght , sai d Omega.
I was so t i r ed of al l t he puppet mast er s pul l i ng our st r i ngs.
You can deci de not t o, I t ol d hi mf i r ml y.
He f r owned. I don t know how. . . t o not .
Oh, f or cr yi ng out l oud, I mut t er ed, t hen swung back and wal l oped hi mi n t he
Page 96
si de of hi s head as har d as I coul d.

123
Ow ow ow! Somet hi ng i n my hand went cr unch, as i f I d br oken a smal l bone. Oh, my
God, i t hur t ! I sucked i n my br eat h and t r i ed not t o scr eam. Li ke a boy!
Omega st agger ed but caught hi msel f and i mmedi at el y spun i nt o a snap ki ck at my
knee. I dodged i t and wheel ed i nt o a spi nni ng si de ki ck, whi ch connect ed sol i dl y
wi t h t he t op of Omega s l eg. Tucki ng my hur t hand agai nst my body, I f ocused on
ki cks, ai mi ng hi gh at hi s head, bobbi ng and weavi ng t o avoi d hi s bl ows. He managed
t o bl ock al most ever yt hi ng I t hr ew at hi m, hi s si l ver y eyes f ol l owi ng my movement s
cal ml y and pr eci sel y.
He can t t r ack t hi ngs f ast .
What di d t hat mean?
As an exper i ment , I t ook my hur t hand and waved i t qui ckl y i n f r ont of hi s f ace,
as i f I wer e about t o hi t hi mf r oma bunch of di f f er ent di r ect i ons. Sur e enough, hi s
eyes coul dn t f ol l ow i t , and he paused, as i f t o concent r at e on i t .
So I punched hi mwi t h my ot her f i st , a r eal l y har d bl ow r i ght at hi s nose.
Appar ent l y hi s per f ect schnoz was not 400 per cent st r onger t han t he aver age nose,
because i t br oke. Omega bl i nked and st epped back, l ooki ng st ar t l ed, t hen bl ood
st ar t ed gushi ng f r omhi s nose. He t ouched i t , al ar med.
Head wounds al ways bl eed a l ot , I t ol d hi m.
Then I whi pped my hand al l ar ound hi m, up and down, si de t o si de, and agai n he
t r i ed har d t o t r ack i t , as i f he coul dn t hel p hi msel f .
I j umped and l anded a sci ssor s ki ck agai nst hi s neck, and he went down on hi s
knees, coughi ng. Once mor e wi t h t he hand wavi ng. I t was l i ke hypnot i zi ng a cat . Then
I cl asped my hands t oget her , wi nci ng f r omt he pai n i n my br oken one, and gave Omega
a power f ul t wo- handed punch t hat sent hi mf acedown i nt o t he di r t . Of cour se, hi t t i ng
hi mwi t h my i nj ur ed hand hur t so much I al most shr i eked and passed out r i ght next t o
hi m.
But I hel d t ough. J ust bar el y. But enough.
I l ooked down at Omega, t he super boy, t he pi nnacl e of I t ex s achi evement . I d
best ed hi mbecause he coul dn t t r ack t hi ngs wel l wi t h hi s eyes. I d won because J eb
had t ol d me about i t . I l ooked up at t he Di r ect or . She was st ar i ng at me wi t h t he
pur e, col d hat r ed of someone who s been def eat ed by somet hi ng she t hought was
i nf er i or .
Wel l , t hat s t he br eaks.
Omega was out col d but not dead. We wer e supposed t o f i ght t o t he f i ni sh. I f he d
got t en me on t he gr ound, he woul d have ki l l ed me, poor sap. He di dn t know any
bet t er .
But I di d. I coul d have gi ven hi ma qui ck si deways ki ck at t he base of hi s neck,
whi ch woul d have snapped hi s spi ne. I nst ead I wal ked away, headi ng back t o wher e my
hal f br ot her s body l ay.
Who s t he bet t er man now, you i di ot ? I t hought at t he Di r ect or .

124
The el ect r i c net t oppi ng t he cast l e wal l s coul d keep st uf f i n but not out ,
i nt er est i ngl y. I was pushi ng t hr ough t he cr owd, t ossi ng of f a qui ck punch or ki ck
her e and t her e, t r yi ng t o get t o Ar i , when suddenl y a l ar ge r ock f l ew over t he
cast l e wal l . I t hi t a mut ant on t he head, and she sat down abr upt l y.
I l ooked up. An act ual ar r ow, f l ami ng l i ke i n t he movi es, was f l yi ng over head. I t
st r eaked r i ght t hr ough t he net and bur i ed i t sel f i n t he back of a Fl yboy, who
pr ompt l y caught f i r e. What el se?
When humans cat ch f i r e, t hey r un ar ound scr eami ng, or possi bl y r emember t o st op,
dr op, and r ol l . When a Fl yboy cat ches f i r e, i t j ust st ands t her e l ooki ng st upi d
unt i l i t t ur ns i nt o a t al l , f l ami ng st at ue. Appar ent l y, once a Fl yboy i s r eal l y
af l ame, i t s j oi nt s and pul l eys qui t wor ki ng and i t can t move. Usef ul i nf o I t ucked
away f or f ut ur e use.
Mor e r ocks began f l yi ng over head.
Get t i ng Ar i woul d have t o wai t . I had t he l i vi ng ones t o t ake car e of now.
Angel ! I shout ed. Nudge! Tot al ! St and next t o t he wal l ! I hadn t not i ced Tot al
i n a whi l e, and I was gl ad t o see hi mbound out of t he cr owd t owar d me. He was
l i mpi ng, hol di ng one paw up, but l eaped i nt o my ar ms and l i cked my f ace.
Bl eah. Bl ood, he sai d, and qui t l i cki ng. Bl eah r i ght back at cha, I t hought .
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Who s t hr owi ng t he r ocks? Nudge asked, as we pr essed agai nst t he wal l .
I don t know, I st ar t ed t o say, j ust as Angel sai d, Ki ds.
What do you mean ki ds ? I asked. Mor e r ocks f l ew over head, and sever al mor e
f l ami ng ar r ows.
I t hi nk i t s ki ds out t her e, Angel sai d. I t f eel s l i ke ki ds.
I wat ched as anot her l ar ge r ock hi t a Fl yboy i n t he knees. The r obot buckl ed, and
t hen t wo mut ant s f el l on i t , punchi ng i t and pul l i ng i t s hai r .
Ki ds or , l i ke, cavemen?
Ki ds, sai d Angel .
Save t he f l ock! Ki l l t he Fl yboys! Dest r oy I t ex!
My eyebr ows l i f t ed as t he gr owi ng r oar out si de became mor e di st i nct . Sl owl y, t he
noi se i n t he cour t yar d st i l l ed, and t he r oar out si de gr ew l ouder . Mor e and mor e
r ocks, some as bi g as mel ons, and f l ami ng ar r ows st r eaked over t he wal l s.
Save t he f l ock! Ki l l t he Fl yboys! Dest r oy I t ex!
I l ooked at Nudge and Angel . Wonder i f t hey r e bl og r eader s?
Chase t hemaway! t he Di r ect or s voi ce boomed over t he l oudspeaker . Her angr y
f ace appear ed ei ght f eet t al l on t he scr eens ar ound t he cour t yar d. Some of t he
scr eens wer e now br oken, and al l had di r t and bl ood spl ashed on t hem. They had
pr obabl y cost a l ot t oo.
Chase t hemaway! t he Di r ect or shout ed agai n. They ar e ver mi n! They ar e her e t o
dest r oy you! Chase t hemaway!
As al ways, t he Fl yboys j umped t o do her bi ddi ng wi t hout quest i on. Ther e wer e maybe
si xt y l ef t , and as one t hey shot out t hei r wi ngs and t ook t o t he ai r .
Uh, sai d Nudge, wat chi ng.
Yes. Oops. No one had t ur ned of f t he el ect r i c net . Si xt y Fl yboys r ose qui ckl y
upwar d, and si xt y Fl yboys i nst ant l y shor t ed out when t hey hi t t he net . They f el l t o
t he gr ound i n per f ect uni son.
That was poor pl anni ng on her par t , Tot al obser ved, and I nodded.
Bam! Bam! Bam! I hear d t he squeal of an engi ne out si de, and t hen bone- r at t l i ng
t humps agai nst t he t al l gat es. The peopl e out si de wer e t r yi ng t o dr i ve a vehi cl e
t hr ough, t r yi ng t o br eak down t he gat es.

125
West f i el d, Engl and
The r egi onal di r ect or of t hi s School l ooked over t he t ops of hi s gl asses.
Hol l oway? What s t hat noi se out si de?
Hi s assi st ant moved t o a wi ndow. A l ook of al ar mpassed over hi s f ace. I t seems
t o be some ki nd of demonst r at i on, si r , he sai d.
Demonst r at i on? What t he devi l do you mean? The r egi onal di r ect or moved t o t he
wi ndow. What he saw made hi s mout h open i n ast oni shment . Hundr eds, maybe t housands
of peopl e wer e pr ot est i ng out si de t he School s gat es. They wer e. . . t hey l ooked al most
l i ke chi l dr en. But t hat di dn t make sense.
I s t hi s some ant i nucl ear demonst r at i on? he asked Hol l oway. Do t hey have si gns?
Per haps we shoul d cal l secur i t y.
Hol l oway l i st ened at t he wi ndow. The r oar s out si de became mor e di st i nct . Save t he
f l ock! Dest r oy I t ex! Save t he wor l d! Dest r oy I t ex!
The t wo men st ar ed at each ot her . How coul d t hey possi bl y know we r e an ar mof
I t ex? t he r egi onal di r ect or asked.
Cr ash! A sof t bal l - si zed r ock f l ew t hr ough t hei r wi ndow, shower i ng t hemwi t h gl ass
shar ds.
Now t hey coul d hear t he chant i ng cl ear l y:
We want . . . what s our s!
You bel ong. . . behi nd bar s!
I t ex i s an evi l gi ant !
Us ki ds ai n t buyi n i t !
The r egi onal di r ect or l ooked at Hol l oway, who had sever al scr at ches f r omf l yi ng
gl ass. Cal l secur i t y.
Mar t i nsl i j n, Net her l ands
Edda Engel s l ooked up f r omher l ab bench and l i st ened. Odd sounds wer e comi ng i n
t he wi ndow. She went t o i nvest i gat e, onl y t o dodge a heavy gl ass bot t l e, t i pped wi t h
a bur ni ng r ag. Wha? Was t hat a Mol ot ov cockt ai l ?
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Boom! I t expl oded j ust as Edda dove beneat h her desk. What was goi ng on? Out si de,
i t sounded l i ke hundr eds, maybe mor e, wer e sur r oundi ng her l ab. What wer e t hey
sayi ng?
You ve r ui ned our wat er and our ai r !
You r e evi l and you j ust don t car e!
Fang i s r i ght : t he t i me has come
For us ki ds t o cl ai mour home!
Who was Fang? Edda wonder ed. And mor e i mpor t ant , how coul d she get out of her e?
The f i r e was spr eadi ng.
Woet ens, Aust r al i a
What s al l t hat dust , t hen? The chi ef oper at i ng of f i cer of t he Aust r al i an br anch
of Del aneyMi nker peer ed out t he wi ndow. Mi l es and mi l es of deser t st r et ched away as
f ar as she coul d see. On t he hor i zon, a wi de, l ow dust st or mwas comi ng at t hem.
Hand me t hose bi nocul ar s, woul d you, Sam? she asked her assi st ant .
Samhanded her t he bi nocul ar s.
I s i t . . . School Day? asked t he COO. Ar e we expect i ng f i el d t r i ps?
Saml ooked at her . We don t get f i el d t r i ps her e. I t s a t op- secr et f aci l i t y.
Why?
Wel l , i t l ooks l i ke. . . chi l dr en! On mot or scoot er s, appar ent l y. And some of t hose
f our - wheel t hi ngi es.
ATVs? asked Sam. He t ook t he bi nocul ar s and l ooked.
A l i ne of smal l vehi cl es st r et ched f or at l east a mi l e. I t di d l ook l i ke chi l dr en.
Was t hi s some sor t of nat ur e cl ub? He squi nt ed and adj ust ed t he f ocus sl i ght l y. They
wer e car r yi ng si gns. He coul d al most make one out . . .
DELANEYMI NKER = POLLUTI NG STI NKER
And anot her one:
THE PLANET I S OURS! GET OUT!
You may want t o go i nt o l ockdown, sai d Sam, soundi ng f ar cal mer t han he f el t .

126
I ggy! Fang yel l ed. Gasman! Fol l ow me! Wheel i ng t hr ough t he sky, Fang wor ked
hi s wi ngs power f ul l y, r aci ng acr oss t he gr ay ocean t owar d t he hor i zon.
Ri ski ng a backwar d gl ance, he saw t hat I ggy and t he Gasman wer e behi nd hi mand
cl osi ng f ast .
Di ve- bomb, Fang sai d. On my count .
The Gasman l ooked down, f r owned, t hen dr ew i n a deep br eat h and nodded.
Oh, God, sai d I ggy. Tal k about col d. . .
We ar e her e t o dest r oy you, sai d t he Fl yboys, soundi ng l i ke an angr y swar mof
mechani zed bees.
One! Fang cal l ed, headi ng away f r omshor e as f ast as he coul d. He hoped t her e
was a st eep dr op- of f al ong t hi s par t of t he coast . Two!
You wi l l r ecant ! t he Fl yboys dr oned. You wi l l r ecant !
Thr ee! sai d Fang, and t ucked hi s wi ngs i n t i ght agai nst hi s body. He ai med
hi msel f downwar d, r i ght at t he wat er . Fr omt hi s hi gh, goi ng t hi s f ast , hi t t i ng t he
wat er was goi ng t o f eel l i ke hi t t i ng concr et e. But i t coul dn t be hel ped.
He hear d t he Gasman s and I ggy s j acket s f l appi ng as t hey accel er at ed downwar d.
Thi s i s goi ng t o be bad! I ggy cal l ed.
Yep, Fang agr eed, hi s voi ce snat ched away by t he st r eami ng wi nd.
Ther e i s no escape! dr oned t he Fl yboys, who wer e, of cour se, f ol l owi ng t hem
f ast .
Yeah? t hought Fang. Thi s i s t r ue.
Smash!
Hi t t i ng t he col d ocean was i n f act a whol e l ot l i ke hi t t i ng concr et e, Fang
deci ded, but he was so st r eaml i ned t hat he shot st r ai ght down l i ke an ar r ow,
spear i ng t he wat er . I t f el t as i f God had punched hi s f ace, but he was st i l l al i ve
and consci ous.
He hear d t he i mpact of t he Gasman and I ggy hi t t i ng t he wat er but coul d bar el y see
anyt hi ng when he opened hi s eyes.
As t he boys st ar t ed t o make t hei r way up t o t he sur f ace, t hei r ear s poppi ng, t hey
saw and f el t hundr eds and hundr eds of Fl yboys smashi ng i nt o t he wat er .
I t t ur ned out t hey coul d not swi m.
Page 99
I t al so t ur ned out t hat wat er was not a good envi r onment f or t hei r syst ems t o
f unct i on pr oper l y i n. The el ect r i cal char ges of t he Fl yboys shor t i ng out act ual l y
made Fang s ski n t i ngl e, and he mot i oned t o t he Gasman t o get away, now! The Gasman
gr abbed I ggy, and t hey swamhar d af t er Fang.
They bobbed t o t he sur f ace about ei ght y f eet away f r omwher e a showst oppi ng
l i ght s- and- spar ks di spl ay was t aki ng pl ace. The Fl yboys coul dn t hel p t hemsel ves,
even as t hey saw dozens of t hei r col l eagues expl odi ng and shor t i ng out i n t he wat er .
Some of t hemt r i ed t o backpedal , but t hei r wi ngs wer en t desi gned t hat way- and t he
Fl yboys behi nd t hemj ust hi t t hemand dr agged t hemal l down anyway.
Awesome! shout ed t he Gasman, punchi ng hi s f i st i n t he ai r . Oh, I ggy, man, i f
you coul d onl y see t hi s!
I hear i t , sai d I ggy happi l y. I f eel i t . Ther e s not hi ng l i ke t he smel l of t he
shor t ed cl osed- ci r cui t syst emof an el ect r i c Fr ankenst ei n.
So, guys, sai d Fang, t r eadi ng wat er . Good pl an?
Excel l ent pl an, dude, sai d t he Gasman, and I ggy hel d up hi s hand f or a hi gh
f i ve.
Fang sl apped i t , t hen t hey swamt owar d shor e.

127
Wi t h a gi gant i c spl i nt er i ng, gr i ndi ng noi se, t he enor mous cast l e gat es bur st
i nwar d. What was l ef t of t he mut ant s hur r i ed out of t he way.
A gi ant yel l ow Humvee car eened i n t hr ough t he gat es, i t s f r ont end consi der abl y
smashed.
The dr i ver s door popped open, and a t eenage gi r l l eaned out . I j ust got my
l i cense! she sai d exci t edl y i n a heavy Ger man accent .
Then hundr eds of ki ds st ar t ed pour i ng t hr ough t he br oken gat es, onl y t o st op and
st ar e at t he cour t yar d, l i t t er ed wi t h bodi es and bust ed Fl yboys.
Onst age, t he Di r ect or was whi t e- f aced. Her or der had ef f ect i vel y f i ni shed of f t he
l ast of t hi s bat ch of Fl yboys. Maybe she had mor e st ashed i nsi de. At any r at e, she
t ur ned and st ar t ed hur r yi ng t owar d t he met al door t hat l ed back i nt o t he cast l e.
I t umbl ed Tot al i nt o Angel s ar ms and gr abbed Nudge s hand. Come on!
The t wo of us t ook of f i nt o t he ai r - t he Fl yboys had shor t ed out t he el ect r i c gr i d
as wel l as t hemsel ves.
Hel p me get her ! I t ol d Nudge.
J ust as t he Di r ect or r eached t he met al door and was gr abbi ng hol d of t he l ever ,
Nudge and I dr opped down on ei t her si de of her .
Not so f ast , Mom, I snar l ed.

128
Nudge and I each gr abbed t he Di r ect or under an ar mand t ook t o t he ai r .
She was no l i ght wei ght , but t oget her we t ook her hi gh, way over t he cast l e. She
was scr eami ng i n t er r or , l ooki ng down, ki cki ng her f eet , l osi ng bot h of her sensi bl e
shoes.
Put me down t hi s i nst ant ! she shout ed.
I l ooked at her . Or what ? You l l send me t o my dungeon?
She st ar ed at me wi t h cont empt .
Oh, di d you see? I sai d. I def eat ed Super boy. But who knows? Maybe someday you
can t ur n hi mi nt o a r eal boy.
Omega was f ar super i or t o you, t he Di r ect or spat .
And yet her e I am, dr aggi ng your st upi d but t acr oss t he sky, and t her e he i s,
doi ng a f ace- pl ant i n t he di r t , I poi nt ed out . I f by super i or , you mean t ot al l y
i nadequat e i n ever y way, t hen, yes, Omega i s f ar super i or .
What do you want ? t he Di r ect or snapped. Wher e ar e you t aki ng me?
Most l y j ust up, I sai d. I do want some answer s, t hough,
I l l t el l you not hi ng!
I l ooked at her ser i ousl y, her st i f f bl ond hai r st r eami ng out i n back of her . I n
t hat case, I mgoi ng t o dr op you f r omway, way up her e, and wat ch you go t wo
di mensi onal . We cal l i t f l ock spl at t er ar t .
A l ook of genui ne f ear ent er ed her col d eyes, whi ch cheer ed me a l i t t l e.
What do you want t o know? she asked caut i ousl y, t r yi ng not t o l ook down.
Who s my r eal mom? And no, desi gni ng me doesn t make you a mom. I knew what J eb
had t ol d me; I want ed conf i r mat i on.
I . Don t . Know.
Page 100
Oops! I l et go of her , and she shr i eked as she and Nudge st ar t ed pl ummet i ng.
I l l t el l you! she scr eamed, l ooki ng up at me.
I swooped down and gr abbed her agai n. Now, you wer e sayi ng. . . ?
Whi t e- f aced, she swal l owed and t ook some deep br eat hs. A r esear cher . She st udi ed
bi r ds. She of f er ed t o donat e an egg. I t i sn t i mpor t ant who she was.
My hear t l eaped. Her name?
I don t r emember . Wai t ! she sai d, as my f i nger s l oosened. Somet hi ng Hi spani c.
Her nandez? Mar t i nez? Somet hi ng l i ke t hat .
I coul d har dl y br eat he, and i t wasn t because we wer e at f i ve t housand f eet . Dr .
Mar t i nez r eal l y was my mot her . I hugged t he knowl edge t o me l i ke a l i f e j acket .
You r e not t he onl y successf ul hybr i d, you know, t he Di r ect or sai d.
Wel l , t her e s dar l i ng Omega, I admi t t ed. And Spot , t he cat gi r l .
And me, t he Di r ect or sai d.
I whi st l ed. Don t t el l me, l et me guess. You r e hal f . . . vul t ur e? Hyena? Some ki nd
of mar i ne bot t om- f eeder ?
Gal apagos t or t oi se, she sai d. I mone hundr ed and seven year s ol d.
Huh. And you don t l ook a day over a hundr ed and f i ve, I sai d.
She gl ar ed at me.
I l ooked down and saw t hat t he cast l e was sur r ounded by Ger man pol i zei car s. Today
was over . Today had been saved. Maybe even t he wor l d?
Bye, I t ol d her , and l et go.
Nudge coul dn t hol d her , and t he Di r ect or spun downwar d, scr eami ng i n t er r or and
sur pr i se.
That i sn t you, Max, sai d t he Voi ce.
The Voi ce! I hadn t hear d i t i n a whi l e.
Why s t hat , J eb? I asked i nsi de my head. Because you di dn t desi gn me t hat way?
No, sai d t he Voi ce. Because t hat s not who you ar e as a per son. No one desi gned
i t . I t s al l you. You r e j ust not a ki l l er . You ve shown t hat agai n and agai n. And
i t makes me pr ouder t han anyt hi ng el se about you.
I si ghed. Yes, i t s t r ue, I ampr et t y wonder f ul , I t hought t o t he Voi ce. But deep
down, wher e I hoped t he Voi ce coul dn t hear me, I di d f eel a l i t t l e pr oud, a l i t t l e
hear t - war med.
Tal k about mani pul at i on.
Okay, l et s go get her , I t ol d Nudge, and we swooped down and caught t he
Di r ect or wi t h a good t wo hundr ed f eet t o spar e.

129
Af t er i t was al l over but t he shout i ng, my onl y desi r e was t o st r eak t owar d home.
But of cour se I was out vot ed, t hr ee t o one. Even when I cl ai med t hat each of t hei r
vot es count ed f or onl y hal f a vot e, t hey st i l l out vot ed me.
Wi t hi n hour s we wer e at t hei r chosen dest i nat i on,
Let me see t he scr een, Angel asked, l eani ng cl oser .
Yes, we wer e at a cyber caf é i n Fr ance. Why Fr ance? The f ood! The cut e shoes!
The f act t hat Tot al coul d go i nt o r est aur ant s and gr ocer y st or es!
Now I can t see, Tot al compl ai ned. He l eaned f or war d on hi s paws on t he t abl e.
Cof f ee! sai d Nudge happi l y, sl ur pi ng f r omher mug. Looove i t !
Pl ease t el l me t hat s decaf , I sai d.
The scr een di nged, and t her e was Fang s f ace. And Gazzy. And I ggy, al l cr owdi ng
ar ound t hei r comput er back i n t he St at es.
Fang! I t f el t l i ke year s si nce I d seen hi m, t al ked t o hi m. I n t he past t hr ee
days, ever y memor y I d ever had of hi mhad pl ayed t hr ough my br ai n. I n t he dungeon,
i t was t hi nki ng about hi mt hat had kept me goi ng. Then get t i ng t hat not e f r omt he
mut ant i n Lendehei m, sayi ng he was comi ng- i t had been one of t he best moment s of my
l i f e.
Wher e t he heck wer e you? I demanded. I t hought you wer e on your way!
Li t t l e Fl yboy compl i cat i on, he sai d, hi s voi ce soundi ng f unny t hr ough t he
comput er . Di d you know t hey can t swi m? They si nk l i ke r ocks. They don t l i ke wat er
at al l .
Hi s sol emn f ace, hi s eyes as f ami l i ar t o me as my own, seemed t o make my wor l d
st r ai ght en out agai n. I l aughed, and ever yt hi ng i n me f el t whol e and compl et e. I
knew t he f l ock woul d st ay t oget her now, no mat t er what .
You guys st ay put , I sai d. We l l come t o you.
You got i t , he sai d, and my hear t mel t ed.
Page 101
Br i ng me somet hi ng f r omFr ance! Gazzy cr i ed i n t he backgr ound.
Okay, I pr omi sed hi m.
Me t oo! I ggy put i n. Li ke, a Fr ench gi r l !
I gr oaned. Can we say sexi st pi g one mor e t i me?
But he was my sexi st pi g, and I woul d see t hemal l soon. I coul dn t wai t .

Epi l ogue
We Ar e The Champi ons- For t he Moment , Anyway

130
When I saw t hemat l ast , on a bar r i er i sl and of f t he coast of Nor t h Car ol i na, I
al most coul dn t speak. Nudge, Tot al , Angel , and I coast ed t o a l andi ng on t he beach,
f eel i ng t he sand squeak under our shoes.
Ther e was a l i ne of gnar l ed oaks at t he t op edge of t he beach, and I l ooked
t hr ough t hem, t hen checked my wat ch.
You r e l at e.
Fang st epped out of t he shadows, eat i ng an appl e. He was dr essed i n bl ack, as
usual , and hi s f ace l ooked l i ke a l umpy pl umpi e. But hi s eyes shone as he came
t owar d me, and t hen I was r unni ng t o hi mover t he sand, my wi ngs out i n back of me.
We smashed t oget her awkwar dl y, wi t h Fang st andi ng st i f f l y f or a moment , but t hen
hi s ar ms sl owl y came ar ound me, and he hugged me back. I hel d hi mt i ght , t r yi ng t o
swal l ow t he l ump of cot t on i n my t hr oat , my head on hi s shoul der , my eyes squeezed
shut .
Don t ever l eave me agai n, I sai d i n a t i ny voi ce.
I won t , he pr omi sed i nt o my hai r , soundi ng most un- Fang- l i ke. I won t . Not
ever .
And j ust l i ke t hat , a col d shar d of i ce t hat had been i nsi de my chest ever si nce
we d spl i t up- wel l , i t j ust di sappear ed. I f el t mysel f r el ax f or t he f i r st t i me i n I
don t known how l ong. The wi nd was chi l l y, but t he sun was br i ght , and my whol e
f l ock was t oget her . Fang and I wer e t oget her .
Excuse me? I mal i ve t oo. I ggy s pl ai nt i ve voi ce made me pul l back. I wi ped my
sl eeve acr oss my eyes, t hen t ur ned and hugged I ggy har d, and Gazzy, and t hen we wer e
al l huggi ng one anot her and pr omi si ng never t o spl i t up agai n. Basi cal l y we j ust got
caught up, and at e doughnut s and appl es, whi ch t he boys had t hought f ul l y pr ovi ded.
Wel l , what now? Gazzy asked, as I t r i ed t o smoot h hi s st i cki ng- up hai r .
I l et out a deep br eat h and l ooked at my f l ock.
I need t o go t o Ar i zona, I sai d.

131
J eb was al r eady t her e, at Dr . Mar t i nez s house. I had hal f expect ed i t .
The f l ock and I l anded i n t he woods cl ose t o t he house, and af t er l ooki ng
car ef ul l y ar ound, we st epped i nt o t he yar d. I mmedi at el y, Magnol i a, t he basset hound,
l umber ed out f r omunder t he por ch, bayi ng. She r an over , saw Tot al , and st ar t ed
bar ki ng har der .
Oh, pl ease, sai d Tot al .
The f r ont door opened, and El l a bur st out , her f ace al i ght . Then she saw I wasn t
al one, and she st opped, st ar i ng at t he r est of t he f l ock.
Oh, gosh, she br eat hed. Al l of you. . . Her f ace spl i t i nt o a humongo smi l e, and
she r aced t o me, cat chi ng me i n a ski nny, wi r y hug. You r e my si st er ! she cr i ed.
I had wi shed you coul d be. Now you ar e.
She pul l ed back, and we j ust smi l ed at each ot her . I mean, I f el t much cl oser t o
Nudge, si st er wi se, but knowi ng t hat El l a and I shar ed nonbi r d bl ood meant a l ot t o
me. I t made me f eel mor e sol i d, somehow. That sounds st upi d, but t hat s how i t f el t .
Max. Dr . Mar t i nez st ood on t he por ch, her hand t o her mout h. J eb came out af t er
her , hi s f ace dr awn and sad. He l ooked gl ad t o see us al l , t hough. I r emember ed how
he d l ooked when Ar i di ed. I was so conf used about hi mi t made my head hur t .
Hi , I sai d l amel y. Unf or t unat el y, f i ndi ng out who my par ent s act ual l y wer e had
not i mpr oved my soci al gr aces by l eaps and bounds. Oh, wel l .
Dr . Mar t i nez- i t f el t t oo wei r d t o cal l her anyt hi ng el se- came down t he st eps, and
t hen she was hur r yi ng t o me. I st ood st i f f l y f or a moment whi l e she wr apped me i n a
war m, moml i ke embr ace t hat f el t l i ke t he best , sof t est bl anket i n t he whol e wor l d.
Oh, Max, she br eat hed, st r oki ng my t angl ed hai r . I coul dn t bel i eve i t when I
saw you bef or e. I wasn t sur e. But i t was you! I t was you al l al ong.
Page 102
I nodded, sl i ght l y hor r i f i ed t o see t ear s r unni ng down her cheeks. Yep, I sai d,
t hen cur sed mysel f f or bei ng so awkwar d and t ongue- t i ed. Thi s was my mot her ! Thi s
was who I d dr eamed of my whol e l i f e! Not onl y t hat , but she was t he best mot her i n
t he whol e wor l d, t he one per son I woul d have pi cked! And I was st andi ng her e l i ke a
scar ecr ow.
I cl ear ed my t hr oat , l ooki ng down at my f eet . I mgl ad i t was you, I managed t o
get out , and t hen, t ot al ni ght mar e, I st ar t ed bawl i ng i nt o her sweat er .

132
Af t er my f our t h chocol at e- chi p cooki e, I st ar t ed cal l i ng her Mom. Al l of us, t he
whol e f l ock, pl us El l a, Mom, and J eb, r est ed up. The f l ock and I t ook f abul ous hot
shower s, and Momcame up wi t h some cl ot hes f or al l of us. Ever yone seemed t o ador e
her and gave me envi ous but happy l ooks. I f el t so pr oud of her .
I t was wei r d t o see her t r ust i ng J eb. He seemed nor mal , l i ke he used t o when we
l i ved wi t h hi m. We al l kept our di st ance, t hough, even when he t r i ed t o r each out t o
us. Maybe i n t he f ut ur e we coul d get over ever yt hi ng t hat had happened. He di d hi s
best t o expl ai n t he st uf f he d done. Par t of i t was because he t r ul y bel i eved i t was
t he best way t o t r ai n me t o save t he wor l d. Par t of i t had been desi gned t o seem
much wor se t han i t was. And basi cal l y, he d hel ped me escape any number of t i mes.
And par t of i t had been st uf f he d been f or ced t o do- pl ayi ng al ong wi t h t he Di r ect or
so he coul d st ay i n a posi t i on t o hel p me and know what was comi ng.
I was l i ke, what ever . Deep down, I was gl ad t o l ear n al l t hat , but I wasn t goi ng
t o make i t easy f or hi m.
Okay, ever yone, Momsai d, comi ng i n f r omt he smal l ki t chen. Food s up!
We al l cr ammed i n ar ound her t i ny di ni ng t abl e. She had made r eal Mexi can f ood
her sel f . We r e not t al ki ng Taco Bel l her e. I t was i ncr edi bl e, and she d made enough
f or a bi g cr owd because she knew how har d i t was f or us t o get enough cal or i es.
Oh, man, t hi s smel l s so good, I ggy moaned.
El l a wat ched hi mas he st ar t ed eat i ng, not spi l l i ng a dr op. I t s so amazi ng, how
you can do t hat , she t ol d hi m.
I ggy seemed t aken aback. I ve had a l ot of pr act i ce.
Wel l , I t hi nk you r e amazi ng, sai d El l a, and I ggy bl ushed.
I gl anced acr oss t he t abl e and saw Gazzy and Angel si t t i ng next t o each ot her ,
l ooki ng cal mer and saf er t han t hey had i n so l ong.
And Max, I ve put some scr aps i n a bowl f or your dog, Momsai d. I t s on t he
f l oor , by t he back door .
The f l ock and I went st i l l .
Uh- oh, I t hought .
Tot al st omped up t o me, hi s gl ar e accusi ng. A bowl on t he f l oor ! he seet hed.
Why don t you j ust chai n me t o a st ake i n t he yar d and t hr ow me a bone!
Momst ar ed at hi m, and El l a l ooked l i ke her eyes wer e goi ng t o pop out .
Uh, wel l , t hey di dn t expect - , I began.
No, no, i t s f i ne! Tot al snapped. J ust put an ol d t owel on t he f l oor f or me t o
sl eep on! Li st en, I ve been pr act i ci ng my bar ki ng! Ar f ! Or i s i t bowwow? I can never
r emember .
I l ooked at Mom. Uh, do you t hi nk Tot al coul d maybe have a pl at e her e? I poi nt ed
t o a t i ny space next t o me. He, uh, l i kes t o eat at t he t abl e.
Because I mnot a compl et e bar bar i an! Tot al sai d.
Cer t ai nl y, Momsai d smoot hl y. I msor r y, Tot al .
I l ooked at Fang, and he r ol l ed hi s eyes and r eached f or seconds. Ever yone st ar t ed
t al ki ng agai n, and i t was l i ke a Nor man Rockwel l pai nt i ng, al l of us si t t i ng t her e,
eat i ng t oget her . Wel l , maybe Nor man Rockwel l wi t h, you know, mut ant s and a t al ki ng
dog. But st i l l .

133
You j ust got her e, Momsai d, t ear y eyed agai n.
I know, I t ol d her . But we l l be back. Pr omi se.
Why do you have t o go? El l a wai l ed.
I have. . . r esponsi bi l i t i es, I sai d. You know, a wor l d t o keep savi ng and al l
t hat .
We each hugged Momand El l a about a hundr ed t i mes. Tot al peed on t hei r sage bushes
and gave Magnol i a a di r t y l ook.
Then i t was j ust me and J eb, f aci ng each ot her . I knew he want ed a hug. I al so
Page 103
knew t hat my hugs di dn t come cheap.
So, why me, J eb? I asked. How come I msupposed t o save t he wor l d, when I mnot
even t he most evol ved exper i ment ?
You r e evol ved enough, he sai d. He swal l owed. Max, you r e t he l ast of t he
hybr i ds who st i l l has. . . a soul .
I t hought about how empt y and expr essi onl ess Omega had been. Hmm.
She doesn t have soul , Gazzy scof f ed. Have you ever seen her dance?
Not soul , Gazzy, I sai d. A soul .
Oh.
One l ast good- bye, and t hen Fang and I l ooked at each ot her .
Okay, l et s hi t i t , I sai d, j ust as he sai d, Up and away, guys.
I gave hi ma l i t t l e smi l e. I t ur ned t o t he ot her s. You hear d i m. Up and away!
Then we wer e f l yi ng agai n, r i si ng above t he conf usi ng and t r oubl ed Ear t h, i nt o t he
si mpl e, per f ect , cl ear bl ue sky, wher e ever yt hi ng was peacef ul and made sense.
You know what ? Tot al sai d conver sat i onal l y. I ggy had hi mi n a car r i er t hi ng on
hi s back t hat Momhad f ound i n her at t i c. I t made f l yi ng wi t h Tot al much easi er .
Okay, basi cal l y i t was a baby car r i er , but f or God s sake don t t el l Tot al .
What ? I asked.
Your momi sn t so bad.
Gee, t hanks, I sai d dr yl y, and t he ot her s l aughed.
And f i nal l y, as we f l y of f i nt o t he sunset , so t o speak, t her e s onl y one t hi ng
f or me t o add:
Hopef ul l y, we l l be back.
And i f we ar e, i t won t be pr et t y.
www. maxi mumr i de. com
Thi s f i l e was cr eat ed wi t h
BookDesi gner pr ogr am
bookdesi gner @t he- ebook. or g
6/ 13/ 2007
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